Town&Gown B1g s t n e m o SEPTEMBER 2017
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ir k on the r a b m e ns k ittany Lio ll, we ran As the N f Big Ten footba 4 years first 2 son o 25th sea moments of the the top Inside: Escape rooms test wits • Provost Nick Jones on Penn State’s strategic plan
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2017 September T&G - 1
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features
28 / B1G Times As the Nittany Lions embark on their 25th season of Big Ten football, we rank the top moments of the first 24 years • by David Pencek
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50 / Winning Respect Despite early concerns, Penn State’s entry to the Big Ten has paid dividends on and off the field • by Frank Bodani
64 / Can You Escape? Ingenuity and teamwork are keys to complex missions at State College escape rooms • by Courtney DeVita
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On the cover: Three iconic moments from Penn State’s Big Ten era are (clockwise from left) Allen Robinson’s catch against Michigan in 2013, Ki-Jana Carter’s touchdown run in the 1995 Rose Bowl, and Adam Taliaferro’s return to Beaver Stadium in 2001.
50 Town&Gown is published monthly by Barash Publications, 403 South Allen Street, State College, PA 16801. Advertising is subject to approval of the publisher. COPYRIGHT 2017 by Barash Media. All rights reserved. Send address changes to Town&Gown, 403 S. Allen St., State College, PA 16801. No part of this magazine may be reproduced by any process except with written authorization from Town&Gown or its publisher. Phone: 800-326-9584, 814-238-5051. FAX: 814-238-3415. Printed by Gazette Printers, Indiana, PA. 20,000 copies published this month, available FREE in retail stores, restaurants, hotels and motels & travel depots. SUBSCRIPTIONS and SINGLE COPIES: $45/1yr; current issue by 1st‑class mail, $10; back copy, $15 mailed, $12 picked up at the T&G office. townandgown.com
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departments
10 Letter from The Editor 12 Starting Off: The List, People in the Community, Q&A 20 Living Well: Encourage a healthy dialogue with your teens about dating • by Meghan Fritz 22 Health: Women can take charge of their health to ensure active senior years • by Kristen M. Grine, DO, and Natalia Hanson, MD 24 Great Outdoors: Fall is an ideal time to get outside and develop your photography skills • by Rebekka Coakley 26 On Center: Soprano, piano, and percussion will unite in a concert of contemporary works at Schwab Auditorium • by John Mark Rafacz
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122 78 This Month on WPSU 81
What’s Happening: Penn State football returns, the Palmer Museum of Art reopens, and the Great Insect Fair figures to leave people buzzing
92 From the Vine: A blind test demonstrates that higher-priced wines don’t necessarily taste better • by Lucy Rogers 98 Taste of the Month/Dining Out: The new Federal Taphouse offers 100 craft beers, and a scratch kitchen • by Vilma Shu Danz 110 Lunch with Mimi: Penn State Provost Nicholas P. Jones helps cultivate “knock- your-socks-off” ideas 12 2 Artist of the Month: Incoming Director Erin Coe says the Palmer Museum of Art could help drive tourism • by Tommy Butler 124 Snapshot: For Anita Ditz, “books and kids” proved to be a perfect combination • by Sean Yoder
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Get to to know... know... Get
Town&Gown September
A State College & Penn State tradition since 1966.
Publisher Rob Schmidt
Denise CecilyBechdel: Zhu: Cecily Zhu: Helping businesses go green Greener Transportation Greener Transportation
Denise Bechdel spends many of her
CecilyZhu Zhu hasnever neverowned owned car.Most Mostof ofthe the Cecily has aacar. workdays conducting free energy-efficiency year, shefor bikes towork workon oncampus; campus; inwinter, winter, she year, she bikes to in she audits Pennsylvania companies. She makes takes thebus busor orcarpools. carpools. “When Iwas was looking takes the “When looking recommendations about how Ithe businesses for placeenergy tolive, live,IIand looked intomy my transportation canaaplace save money, andtransportation then looks for to looked into for grants ways the changes. options first,and sheother says.“It “It hadto tofund bebikeable. bikeable. options first, ””she says. had to be ”” “WhenZhu I find out they’ve gotpreaches. the grant, feel Clearly, Zhu practices whatshe she preaches. AsIPenn Penn Clearly, practices what As likessSanta Claus,” she says. “It’s a very nice State’ firstalternative alternative transportation program State’ first transportation program phone call to make. coordinator, since fall”2015 2015she shehas hasmanaged managed coordinator, since fall Bechdelfrom is energy and environment everythingfrom bikeprograms programsto tocar carshare. share.She She everything bike team leader for the Pennsylvania Technical also workswith with StateCollege College and Centre Region also works State and Centre Region Assistance Program, a Penn State Outreach planners toensure ensure cohesivethe system. “Thisarea area planners to cohesive system. “This department. Sheaaoversees programs and has suchinteresting interesting bikeroutes routes andconnectivity, connectivity, has such bike and personnel responsible for offering energy ”” she says. and pollution prevention assistance efficiency she says. toZhu small andup midsize across the Zhu grew up inNew Newcompanies YorkCity, City,where where public grew in York public state. and Previously, aAfter similar roleaa transit andwalking walkingshe areaperformed away wayof oflife. life.After earning transit are earning at the in Small Business Development for degree inEnvironmental Environmental Studies–Policy,Center, Planning, degree Studies–Policy, Planning, a total 15 years ofCollege experience. and Lawof from SUNY ofEnvironmental Environmental and Law from SUNY College of Oneand of the most she enjoyable parts of and Scienceand Forestry,she workedin inSyracuse Syracuseand Science Forestry, worked Bechdel’s job is supervising engineering then Grand Tetons National Parkbefore beforeheading heading then Grand National Park students asTetons they visit manufacturing sites and to Pittsburgh, where she mostrecently recently wasof to Pittsburgh, where most aa them conduct their ownshe assessments. “Awas lot transportation policy planningfellow fellowsetting forthe the transportation policy planning for have never been in and aand manufacturing Pittsburgh Community Reinvestment Group. before,” she says. “I really like seeing the Pittsburgh Community Reinvestment Group. experiential learning they’re getting, and I like ThePenn PennState State jobwas was attractive toZhu Zhu The job attractive to seeing of their ” ininalternative because ofthe theperspective. region’ssinterest interest alternative because region’ Bechdel and her shusband, Jay, live in transportation (CATA’ sclean-running clean-running compressed transportation (CATA’ compressed Howard 14-year-old daughter, natural gaswith fleet,their forexample) example) andthe the opportunity natural gas fleet, for and opportunity Jayden, and two horses.on Denise is district todevelop developnew newprograms programson campus.Among Among the to campus. director for the National Barrel Horse the projects in the works are a bike sharing program projects in the works are a bike sharing program Association, and Jayden races. The Bechdels and BEEP,replaced safety-oriented Bicycle Education and and BEEP, aasafety-oriented Bicycle Education and recently their home’s windows and Enforcement Program. Enforcement Program. roof — to increase energy efficiency, of course. The Penn State Bookstore thanks Cecily ThePenn PennState StateBookstore Bookstore thanks Denise The thanks Cecily Bechdel and all faculty, staff,students and students Zhu and all all faculty, staff, and and students who Zhu and faculty, staff, who who out carry the university’s carry out the theout university’s missionmission every day. day. carry university’s mission every
every day.
Founder Mimi Barash Coppersmith Editorial Director Mark Brackenbury Creative Director Tiara Snare Operations Manager/Assistant Editor Vilma Shu Danz Art Director/Photographer Darren Weimert Staff Writer Sean Yoder Graphic Designer Cody Peachey Ad Coordinator Lana Bernhard Account Executive Nicohl Geszvain, Debbie Markel Business Manager Aimee Aiello Contributing Editor David Pencek Interns Tommy Butler, James Turchick, Courtney DeVita (editorial), Tanner Lockett (graphics) Distribution Handy Delivery To contact us: Mail: 403 S. Allen St., State College, PA 16801 Phone: (814) 238-5051, (800) 326-9584 Fax: (814) 238-3415 mbrackenbury@barashmedia.com (Editorial) rschmidt@barashmedia.com (Advertising) We welcome letters to the editor that include a phone number for verification. Back issues of Town&Gown are available on microfilm at Penn State’s Pattee Library.
www.psu.bncollege.com www.psu.bncollege.com 814-863-0205 814-863-0205 8 - T&G September 2017
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letter from the editor
No Ordinary Autumn It’s the most bustling time of the year. And for football nuts like me, it’s the most wonderful. Local students are back in school and the streets of downtown State College are once again busy with Penn State students hurrying to and from classes. The many businesses that benefit from the thousands of visitors who pour into Happy Valley each Penn State football weekend are ready for a banner season. This is no ordinary autumn. It marks the most anticipated PSU football season in a couple of decades. The Nittany Lions boast two electrifying stars — running back Saquon Barkley and quarterback Trace McSorley — both considered Heisman Trophy contenders. Coming off a surprising and exhilarating Big Ten championship, the Lions are ranked sixth nationally in the coaches poll. The last time Penn State was ranked so highly coming into a season was 1999, when the Lions started at No. 3. The Nittany Lions didn’t win a conference championship that year. But as they embark on their 25th football season in the Big Ten, the Lions have four titles to their credit, winning in 1994, 2005, and 2008 before last year’s magical run. Those seasons certainly offered many great moments. But they weren’t the only ones. In this issue we’ll help the Lions mark their silver anniversary season by looking back at 25 of their top moments during that stretch — as well as a few games we’d just as soon forget. As a Beaver Stadium regular since 1994, the most fun I’ve had at a game was on October 8, 2005. Playing under the
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lights on a rainy night, a resurgent Penn State squad upset Ohio State before a raucous crowd that literally shook the stadium. That game’s on our list, as is a rather lackluster 10-7 win over Illinois on October 29, 2011. It was victory No. 409 for Joe Paterno, breaking Eddie Robinson’s Division I record. None of us who were there that snowy day could have known it was the end of an era, the last game before everything changed for Penn State football — and for the community. The Sandusky scandal broke a week later. We won’t trivialize that enormously painful case by including it in this feature, which focuses primarily on highlights and lowlights on the field. But some of the moments we touch on occurred in its wake, as a community worked to heal. Our list of big Big Ten-era moments was compiled by David Pencek, Town&Gown’s former editorial director, who has been chronicling Penn State football for many years. What’s the No. 1 moment? Look inside to see our choice. And let us know what you think!
Mark Brackenbury Editorial Director mbrackenbury@barashmedia.com
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starting off
The List What to know about September September is the longest month of the year – in one way anyway. It has nine letters, more than any other month.
If you’re wondering what the future holds or you just want some advice, September 13 — National Fortune Cookie Day — has a positive outlook!
September comes from the Latin word septem (seven), because it was originally the seventh of 10 months on the oldest Roman calendar.
For those who are young or young at heart, we celebrate a childhood classic on September 16 with National Play-Doh Day.
Those who hate letting go of summer can take some solace: September has more than twice as many summer days as June.
We celebrate Labor Day this year on Monday, September 4.
Order a pie to go with your burgers and hot dogs if you want to get a jump on National Cheese Pizza Day, which is September 5. We’ll take ours with extra cheese!
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The autumn equinox in the Northern Hemisphere arrives at 4:02 p.m. on Friday, September 22.
And finally, circle September 28 if there’s something silly you’ve been wondering about: it’s Ask a Stupid Question Day. T&G
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People in the Community Paul L. Heasley
Paul L. Heasley, State College Area High School class of 1975, has been designated as 2017's Distinguished Alumnus by the SCAHS Alumni Association. Heasley is a teacher of agricultural science with SCASD Career and Technical Center. Heasley has served as the local FFA adviser for 36 years. He pushed 55 grant applications worth more than $500,000 through to completion, thus offering practical opportunities for his students to “understand and share the seed-to-table experience with others.” Those efforts have benefitted several local food banks, Meals on Wheels, and Centre County Youth Service Bureau, among others. A reception honoring Heasley will be held October 12 from 4-5:30 p.m. in the high school North Building auditorium lobby.
Fern Wise and Emberly Feliz
Fern Wise (far left) of Centre Hall and Emberly Feliz of Pleasant Gap will appear in the bright lights of Broadway on September 16, as part of the National Down Syndrome Society's annual Times Square Video presentation. The feature photographs highlight children, teens, and adults with Down syndrome, reminding the world about the contributions and milestones of people with Down syndrome, according to NDSS. The photos were selected from more than 2,000 entries in the NDSS worldwide call for photos. Almost 500 photographs will appear in the video. Fern’s mother, Heather House, and Emberly’s mother, Katie Feliz, are helping plan the local Buddy Walk October 14 at Mount Nittany Middle School.
Hannah Richardson
State College’s Hannah Richardson, 16, is set to release her fourth album this month. The album, Chasing Rainbows, was produced in Nashville. “(It’s) pretty amazing for a small-town girl in Pennsylvania,” she recently told the Centre County Gazette. As the face of Gomee Girl, which aims to improve the self-esteem of young girls, Richardson is hoping to be a role model. “If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that girls don’t think they are enough. We girls constantly strive for the unattainable and fail miserably.” The title song from her new album is a melancholy ode to girls who think they should have something they don’t, or be someone they’re not. Richardson notes that what’s pretty from a distance isn’t always so. “How can we possibly look like the models who don’t even look like themselves? This is why I do what I do. I truly believe I can make a difference by being a role model.” T&G
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Tara Lilly Photography
Q&A with Lindsey Whissel Fenton, WPSU senior producer, on A Time to Heal By Sean Yoder Lindsey Whissel Fenton is an award-winning senior producer for WPSU and helped to create the documentary A Time to Heal, which will air September 14 and 17. The documentary focuses on the experience of Pennsylvanians during the Vietnam War, from veterans to protesters. A Time to Heal airs in conjunction with Ken Burns’ national documentary, The Vietnam War, which debuts on WPSU September 17. It also precedes a visit by The Traveling Wall, an 80-percent scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, October 5-8 at Penn State’s Innovation Park. T&G: What were some of the most compelling things you learned while working on this documentary? Fenton: I think the first thing I learned before I even really started the project was how unresolved some of the things around Vietnam are and how fresh it still is for a lot of people. I remember when I first learned that I would be working on this documentary, I went to a family barbecue at home in Buffalo where I grew up and I told people “Oh, I'm working on a documentary about Vietnam,” and my parents, my aunts and uncles, everyone kind of immediately tensed up ... And it made me wonder why I had never asked anyone about this stuff before. T&G: Were people forthcoming when you were asking them about their experiences during this time? Fenton: I think they were. I think we were able to build relationships with people and be able to build that trust. I was really kind of blown away. But with that comes the weight of responsibility of doing justice to those stories. ... We talked to people for 90 minutes, two hours, and out of that we're able to take maybe five minutes or so of the very best. So that's hard. ... We also just wanted to give people that chance, if they've never had it before, to sit down and tell their story even knowing that some of it might not make it in. But I think it's very cathartic to have that conversation with another human being who sits across from you and you can say, “This is what happened to me.” T&G: It's also taking down a historical record. Fenton: We tried to talk with people from all different branches of service, from all different times during the war. So we tried to get a pretty broad experience and that was one unifying theme, was that every single person you talk to will 16 - T&G Septemeber 2017
Lindsey Whissel Fenton says she was “blown away” by the trust people showed in sharing their stories of the Vietnam War.
have a different story of Vietnam and none of them will be the same because it varied so dramatically because it just depended on if it was the late-’60s versus the mid-’70s versus what branch of service you were and what job you had. T&G: Of all the projects you've done, how is this one different? Fenton: This is the longest-form project I've done. I usually tend to work on half-hour programs. I think what sets this apart is the depth of connection I got to have with people, that I got to spend so much time talking with people, both in the actual interviews, and beforehand we did phone interviews with everyone. So I really felt like, more than usual, I had the time and opportunity to really connect with people. I think just the sheer weight of talking about Vietnam, it's really powerful. T&G A Time to Heal airs on WPSU September 14 at 8 p.m. and September 17 at 7 p.m. For more, visit wpsu.psu.edu.
Town&Gown HONORS VETERANS OF C E N T R E C OU N TY In Memory Of
COL GERALD F. RUSSELL A Marine combat veteran of Guadalcanal, Iwo Jima, Korea, and the Cuban missile crisis, the colonel was a tireless community volunteer for causes including Pennsylvania Special Olympics, Centre County Toys for Tots, and United Way. Rank: Colonal The Nittany Leathernecks Branch: U.S. Marine Corps honored him in 2006 by Conflicts: Guadalcanal, Iwo Jima, Korea establishing the Russell Scholarship Fund. In 2009, as the longtime chair of the Day of Caring, he was the inaugural recipient of the Centre County United Way’s Gerald F. Russell Award, which is bestowed annually to an individual for their longterm Day of Caring efforts. Sponsored by The Tavern Restaurant
As a special tribute, we are partnering with WPSU to bring the American Veterans Traveling Tribute’s Vietnam Memorial Wall to Innovation Park at Penn State, October 5-8, 2017! Be a part of this historic event by thanking the many brave veterans in Centre County who have fought for our freedom. Honor their service by recognizing their sacrifice to our great nation. Show your support in Town&Gown’s 48-page special Veterans booklet & Vietnam Memorial Wall Official Program to be inserted in our October Issue. Consider placing an ad or honoring a veteran or individual in active duty military with a profile.
For more information, call to speak to one of our Barash Sales Reps at 814-238-5051.
This Monthtownandgown.com On
• Readers tell us about their favorite Penn State football moments of the Big Ten era. Write Editorial Director Mark Brackenbury at mbrackenbury@barashmedia.com to share your top memory! • See a photographer’s tips for taking great fall foliage shots. • Order your copy of Town&Gown’s 2017 Penn State Football Annual. And more!
Visit our Facebook site for the latest happenings and opportunities to win free tickets to concerts and events! Follow us on Twitter and Instagram @TownGownSC.
RESTORING YOUR TRUST IN GOVERNMENT
MICHAEL PIPE & MARK HIGGINS BRIAN MARSHALL COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
FOR COUNTY JUDGE
CASEY MCCLAIN FOR DISTRICT JUDGE
PAID FOR BY FRIENDS OF MICHAEL PIPE
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living well
Perfectly Present Parenting Encourage a healthy dialogue with your teens about dating By Meghan Fritz
It’s not uncommon when your teenager starts the junior high years for them to begin to talk about dating. How parents navigate this rite of passage into young adulthood sets the stage for helping your teen develop a solid selfworth and healthy dating habits. One of the most important things to avoid is shame. For example, “You are way too young to date, not happening, forget about it.” While your teen may be too young to date, a response like this shuts down a healthy dialogue and does nothing to develop a level of trust between the parent and child. If your child confides in you that they have an interest in someone and you immediately shut them down, they will learn from your response to keep secrets from you and they will avoid sharing with you. Once your teen has a crush on someone, have a relaxed discussion about what qualities they admire about that 20 - T&G September 2017
person. Responding, “Oh she’s so cute,” does not promote an opportunity for your child to think more deeply about the qualities they admire in another person. If your teen has an interest in someone you do not approve of, before you shut them down try to stay calm and dig a little deeper. Ask them what they like about that person. Help them develop emotional depth in this area and ask open-ended questions to promote a conversation, not a lecture. Normalize the feelings of attraction for other people. Discuss that feeling attracted to another person emotionally and physically is a part of being human and very normal. You can also let them know that while this is a normal part of development, it’s not the time to have serious, intense romantic relationships. This is a time to have fun, learn more about who you are, your gifts and talents, and to pay attention to what qualities you find attractive in other people. The worst thing you can do is shut down the conversation altogether by making dating seem like an uncomfortable, shameful feeling that is embarrassing. Be careful to acknowledge your own adolescent experience as you help your teen through this time. If you had horrible experiences dating or your parents were not open or trustworthy, work on being the parent you needed and wanted. There is no magic age when you may give your teen the green light to begin dating. However, teaching them to be comfortable with their peers and encouraging them to develop their own identity is something you can work on at any age.
Likewise, if you see intense relationships beginning to develop that make you feel uncomfortable and raise your intuition, calmly discuss your concerns with your teen and set boundaries around how they spend time with others. We all remember the houses that you could go to and hang out, where there was no supervision and the parents seemed more like best friends. While you want to promote an open, trusting relationship with your teen, you don’t want to create a dynamic where they don’t respect you or your boundaries. If you are a single parent and dating, remember your teen is watching. Don’t expect them to have good dating habits if you keep introducing them to new people frequently. Keep your adult time private and separate until you are confident you will have a monogamous, committed relationship that has a future. Do be vulnerable with your teen about the challenges you faced as an adolescent. Sharing your experience can help you deepen the bond with your teen and give them greater insight into why you set the boundaries the way you do.
Halo-therapy may help relieve thesymptoms of: Allergies•Arthritis•Asthma COPD•Emphysema•Sinusitus Cystic Fibrosis•Hypertension Sleeplessness•Acne/Eczema Weakened Immune System and others...
The parenting journey is not about being perfect, it’s about being perfectly present. As humans, we all want to feel heard, validated, and supported. When you are a present parent, you are providing your child with the space to talk openly and safely without shame and embarrassment. Even if you are not sure how to respond, it’s OK to let your teen know, “I’m not sure how I want to respond to you but give me some time to get my thoughts together and I will get back to you.” This shows them how to have a discussion and how to be vulnerable instead of responding with strong reactions that shut down dialogue. At the end of the day a great motto to always remember is to be the parent you wanted and needed. That can help keep you present andmay aware. Halo-therapy help relieve the Remember, it’s not about being perfect, but being perfectly present. T&Gsymptoms of: Allergies • Arthritis • Asthma COPD • Emphysema • Sinusitus Meghan Fritz is a psychotherapist Cystic Fibrosispracticing • Hypertension Sleeplessness • Acne/ Eczema in State College. Wealened Immune System and others...
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health
Healthy Women, Healthy Aging Take charge for active senior years By Kristen M. Grine, DO, & Natalia Hanson, MD Thanks to advances in medicine and changes in lifestyle, many women today are as active in their “senior years” as they were in their younger years. “You’re as young as you feel” is the new mantra. Still, every woman’s body changes with the passing decades — menopause occurs, skin ages and joints start to ache. With each year, annual visits with medical providers become more important than ever to maintain wellness and catch serious illnesses early, while they are more easily treated. Medical screenings Many proactive measures begin when a woman is in her 50s or 60s. Annual medical exams might include: Immunizations — At age 60, adults should receive the shingles vaccine, regardless of whether they ever had chickenpox or shingles. At age 65, the pneumococcal vaccine is recommended with a booster at age 66. Every senior should discuss with her physician whether she needs booster vaccines against tetanus or whooping cough. And, of course, everyone should get a flu shot every year. Hepatitis C screening — The U.S. Centers for Disease Control recently began recommending that anyone born between 1945 and 1965 have a one-time test for hepatitis C, a virus that can cause serious liver disease, even when no symptoms are shown. People born during that time period are five times more likely than other adults to be infected with hepatitis C. Pelvic exam — Postmenopausal women still need pelvic exams if their ovaries are intact. Typically, Pap smears can be 22 - T&G September 2017
discontinued after age 65. Osteoporosis screening — Women are at greater risk for osteoporosis than men due to having smaller bones and going through hormonal changes at menopause. A Kristen M. Grine, DO bone density test is recommended for women who are age 65 and over, as well as for women 60 to 64 who weigh less than 154 pounds and do not take estrogen. Mammogram — Guidelines for mammograms differ from one organization to another, so every woman should discuss her individual needs with her physician. Mammogram screening for breast cancer needs to begin by age 50, if not earlier. Lung cancer screening — Anyone ages 55 to 80 who smoked for at least 30 years or who quit smoking within the past year should have a low-dose CT scan to screen for lung cancer. What’s not normal? Women should discuss with their doctor any unusual physical or mental changes that concern them. Weight gain often occurs as a woman’s metabolism slows, but bellycentered weight gain could be a sign of more serious conditions. Women going through menopause often experience random vaginal bleeding, but any bleeding more than a year after a woman’s last period should be reported to a physician. Forgetting where the car keys are is part of everyday life, but getting lost in a familiar neighborhood or not recognizing a close friend or family member is cause for concern. Women can take many steps on their own to maintain — and even improve — their health with each passing birthday. Stay active. Daily exercise can build muscle, increase cardiovascular health, improve mental outlook, slow bone loss,
and improve balance. Women of any age can find appropriate physical activities, from individual sessions with a personal trainer to senior yoga classes or a new hobby such as walking or Natalia Hanson, MD swimming. Stop smoking. Even a woman who has smoked for decades improves her health by quitting. Almost immediately, heart rate and blood pressure drop. According to the American Cancer Society, life expectancy for smokers having quit for 15 years is at least 10 years shorter than that of non-smokers. Quitting smoking before the age of 40 reduces the risk of dying from smoking-related diseases by 90 percent.
Eat a healthy diet. Foods rich in calcium and vitamin D help keep bones strong. Switch to a low-salt diet to improve cardiovascular health. Eat fiber-rich, whole-grain foods to aid digestion. A healthy diet can lessen the agerelated risk of diseases such as diabetes. Most importantly, every woman should listen to her own body so she can give it the nourishment and care it needs. With this focus, and the support of a primary care provider, a woman can live a comfortable, active lifestyle for many years to come. T&G
Kristen Grine, DO, is a family medicine physician with Penn State Medical Group, located at 476 Rolling Ridge Drive, Suite 101, in State College. Natalia Hanson, MD is a third-year resident in the Penn State Health Family and Community Medicine Residency at Mount Nittany Medical Center.
Make Mount Nittany Wines Part of your fall weekend fun!
Tues. - Fri. 11- 5pm Sat. 10 -5pm Sun. 12:30- 4pm
300 Houser Rd., Centre Hall, 16828 (7 miles from Penn State) www. mtnittanywinery.com • 814. 466. 6373 2017 September T&G - 23
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great outdoors
Picture-Perfect Scenery Fall is an ideal time to get outside and develop your photography skills By Rebekka Coakley During the months of September, October, and November, travel blogs, newspapers, and even travel shows tout the beautiful fall foliage of the Catskills, the Berkshires, Aspen, and Vermont. While the vibrant autumn colors are pretty amazing in these locations, Central Pennsylvania isn’t too shabby either. It’s just fine that tourists traipse around Vermont or the Smoky Mountains trying to create the perfect photo instead of here; smaller crowds make for better photo opportunities. “I’ve made a lot of photographer friends across the country thanks to social media, and so many of them are jealous of our four seasons here in central Pennsylvania,” says Kelly Valeri, a State College resident and owner of Kelly V. Photography, which she started in 2009. “If you live in perpetual summer, I think that variety would be a dream. Personally, I love each season for different reasons, but I think my requests for sessions and weddings are most rapid-fire in the fall. You really can’t beat the beauty of a mountainside glowing with red and gold leaves.” Whether it’s while hiking, biking, camping, or finding a random spot just off the highway, local A solitary tree at photographers have found some Spring Creek Park idyllic places for a scenic shot. in Houserville, Sayid Karimushan, who works in photographed in the early-morning Information Systems at Penn State, mist by Patrick says getting outside with his camera Mansell. has a calming effect — it helps him relax after a stressful day or week. His subject of choice is trains. Horseshoe Curve, just outside of Centre County, is a favorite location for Karimushan. On a sunny day, the view of rolling hills is absolutely awesome. He’s also particularly fond of a lesser-known place in Cassandra, about an hour from State College, off of Route 52, south of Route 22. “It’s one of the most peaceful places to visit, sit, and enjoy nature,” 24 - T&G September 2017
Karimushan says. “Actually, I visit this spot several times a year, in all four seasons. Facing east, the track curves around from the Altoona side, between hills. Facing west, you can see a straight shot for miles. You can stand on the bridge and watch trains roar past below you. Both places are great for train fans and photographers, or even if one doesn’t have any interest in either.” In Centre County, Karimushan recommends photographers check out Black Moshannon State Park. Its ample dirt roads, hiking trails, and scenic views make it a great place to hike, bike, and take photos. Patrick Mansell, the staff photographer and feature story producer for Penn State News and Media Relations, says that all four of our seasons provide their own charm to outdoor photos, but that someone who goes out into the valley on a Saturday in October will find some great photo opportunities. He adds that the key is to take the time to drive around and see what the town, the university campus, the creeks, and
mountains have to offer on a Sayid Karimushan given day. enjoys photographing In Centre County, he says trains at a picturesque there are several places to create spot in Cassandra. a lovely photo. “Collier Lake is magnificent in the fall, and if you get there late afternoon, the multitude of orange and red mountain ridges can offer some really great reflections in the water,” Mansell says. “Several of our local creeks like Trout Run and certain areas of Spring Creek can also provide some really vibrant fall foliage images. I also portrait session and we have a photo from that like to photograph water. Another seasonal day framed in our entryway. She always asks, photo essay to consider is Mount Nittany. ‘When can we go back to that beautiful place?’ The mountain changes colors throughout the and gets surprised when I tell her it was a small year. It can be bright green in summer, purple, patch of tall grass behind an abandoned car almost burgundy, in the fall, and slate blue or repair shop.” even Penn State blue in the winter months. While great photographers are often born On my drive home from work I like to see with a natural instinct to see a unique photo what colors dear old Mount Nittany is offering that no one else would consider, photography on any given day.” is still an excellent way to get outside and Mansell advises not to ignore everyday share your views with others. locations like the tree-lined streets of “I see two things as the biggest challenges Bellefonte and State College, because he often for an amateur photographer,” Karimushan finds beautiful places in the obvious. says. “First, not understanding the camera “One of my favorite fall photographs in and what the settings or terms mean: aperture my personal collection was taken next to priority, shutter priority, ISO; and second, the basketball courts at Spring Creek Park in because of the lack of understanding of the Houserville,” he says. “Just a solitary tree with camera, people have a fear of moving away some early-morning mist in the distance. I didn’t from the auto mode. That was my problem plan for this photo at all. I had just finished at the very beginning. I don’t call myself a photographing the covered bridge at Spring professional photographer by a long shot and Creek Park and as I was heading back to my car I learn something new every day, but, I do I noticed a beautiful and lonely little tree at the experiment with various settings and with edge of the softball field. It was bursting with digital cameras you have nothing to lose. You color. So you never know where the fall foliage is can take a thousand photos and get maybe 10 going to show itself around this region. It can be that you may like and you’re still a winner. right under your nose sometimes.” And don’t think that the professionals always Valeri had a similar experience — not on get the photo right in the first shot.” T&G a rolling hillside or on a perfectly manicured landscape, but in an unexpectedly beautiful location. “Obviously we have access to some very Read Sayid Karimushan’s tips on proper scenic areas here in Happy Valley, but you camera settings at townandgown.com. just need to find one small spot that works to Rebekka Coakley is a freelance writer make a beautiful photo,” she says. “When my living in State College. daughter turned 2, I took her out for a quick 2017 September T&G - 25
Brooke Irish
T& G
on center
Pulitzer Program
Soprano, piano, and percussion to unite in concert of contemporary works By John Mark Rafacz Dawn Upshaw, a five-time Grammy Award-winning soprano, and Gilbert Kalish, a celebrated pianist and her longtime accompanist, will join with So Percussion, a quartet that “plays with an irresistible vitality” (Washington Post), to perform music by two Pulitzer Prize-winning composers at 7:30 p.m. October 24 in Schwab Auditorium. The program features a yet-to-be-titled work, written for these artists and co-commissioned by the Center for the Performing Arts at Penn State, by composer Caroline Shaw, who performed with the vocal group Roomful of Teeth last season at Schwab. The program also includes George Crumb’s 2004 song cycle The Winds of Destiny, which recasts nine songs and spirituals from the Civil War era in a setting of haunting sounds. “For the most part, it’s tunes that all of us are familiar with — things like ‘Glory, Glory Hallelujah,’ ‘Shenandoah,’ and ‘When Johnny Comes Marching Home,’” Upshaw told a Houston Chronicle reporter before a 2015 performance of The Winds of Change. “The evocative and unique sound-world of George Crumb takes the listener deeply into each of these songs. He asks us to really contemplate war, by the way he has arranged the songs.” Upshaw enjoys international celebrity as a singer of opera and concert repertoire ranging from the sacred works of J. S. Bach to the freshest sounds of today. The Nashville, Tenn., native’s ability to reach to the heart of music and text has gained her a diverse audience. Her modest temperament has earned her the nickname “the down-to-earth diva.” Kalish, pianist of the Boston Symphony Chamber Players for three decades, has a discography of more than 100 recordings embracing both classical and contemporary repertoire. A distinguished professor at the State University of New York-Stony Brook, Kalish has been an artist of The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center since 2006. Four classically trained graduate students at the Yale School of Music founded So Percussion in 1999. The ensemble’s name comes from the second character in the compound Japanese word ensou (to perform music). A writer for The New Yorker describes the percussion music of Eric Cha-Beach, Josh Quillen, Adam Sliwinski, and Jason Treuting as an “exhilarating blend of precision and anarchy, rigor and bedlam.” 26 - T&G September 2017
Grammy-winning soprano Dawn Upshaw will perform with Gilbert Kalish and So Percussion at Schwab Auditorium.
The quartet’s adventurous spirit was passed down from influential 20thcentury composers like John Cage and Steve Reich, plus pioneering ensembles such as Kronos Quartet and Nexus Percussion. “Through a mix of consummate skill and quirky charm,” writes a New York Times critic, “this mercurial quartet has helped to ignite an explosive new enthusiasm for percussion music old and new.” T&G Chick King and Betty Scott sponsor the concert. The Pieter and Lida Ouwehand Endowment provides support. So will also perform at a Classical Coffeehouse at 8 p.m. October 23 in Hintz Family Alumni Center. Coffeehouse admission is free for Penn State students; a $5-perperson donation is suggested for community members. For details, visit cpa.psu.edu or phone (814) 863-0255. John Mark Rafacz is the editorial manager of the Center for the Performing Arts.
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Tim Weight
B1g TIMEs
As the Nittany Lions embark on their 25th season of Big Ten football, we rank the top moments of the first 24 years
By David PencekÂ
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Grant Haley scores last year against Ohio State.
2017 September T&G - 29
I
1 A Walk to Remember. Since Penn State prides itself on not just being a “football school,” it’s fitting that the top moment isn’t about a game. Less than 30 - T&G September 2017
one year after he suffered a spine fracture that could cause him to be paralyzed for the rest of his life, Adam Taliaferro walked onto the field of the newly expanded Beaver Stadium prior to the Lions’ 2001 opener against Miami and showed the more than 109,000 in attendance and a national-television audience his heart and courage. A season earlier, Taliaferro was a freshman defensive back for the Nittany Lions. In the final minutes of what ended up being a 45-6 loss to Ohio State in Columbus, he went in to tackle Ohio State tailback Jerry Westbrooks. Taliaferro’s head snapped backward after hitting Westbrooks’s knee. He remained
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Adam Taliaferro walked on the Beaver Stadium field in September 2001, a year after being paralyzed in a game at Ohio State.
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t’s a milestone many Penn State fans probably don’t care to recognize. The 2017 football season is the 25th campaign for the Nittany Lions as members of the Big Ten. Nittany Nation doesn’t exactly brag about or show a lot of love for its conference. Most likely because the conference, even from the start, hasn’t exactly been all loving and supportive of the school that became its 11th member in the early 1990s. Still, the Lions have won four Big Ten titles and have played many memorable games and enjoyed many memorable moments during the past 24 seasons — and had a few games that they would like to forget. Here is one person’s humble opinion of the top 10 moments for Penn State football beginning with its first Big Ten season in 1993.
on the field motionless. “I remember waking up on the ground and trying to get up and there was nothing there,” Taliaferro said in a 2011 interview with Town&Gown. “There was no pain or anything. I was just numb from the neck down. I had no idea what was going on.” He underwent cervical fusion surgery, and a few weeks later he could move one of his toes on command. It was the first sign that he could recover from the injury. On September 1, 2001, Taliaferro walked out of Beaver Stadium’s south end zone tunnel with a slight
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Penn State coach James Franklin holds the 2016 Big Ten Championship trophy aloft. The hardware was presented by Big Ten commissioner Jim Delaney, to the right of Franklin.
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titles, including an undefeated season, for one simple reason: because of where the program had been just four seasons prior. The 38-31 victory over the Badgers in Indianapolis put a stamp on the fact that Penn State had survived the sanctions handed down by the NCAA in 2012 as well as the penalties the Big Ten and commissioner Jim Delany dealt that same year because of the Jerry Sandusky scandal. Thanks to quarterback Trace McSorley’s 384 yards passing and four touchdowns, the Lions came back from a 28-7 deficit to win the title. The sweetest moment for Penn State fans — and another reason why this moment is ranked No.
2 limp — but he was walking, and he even ran a little to the middle of the field. “There were so many people pulling for me and praying for me,” he said in 2011. “My recovery, it wasn’t a one-person thing — it was a team effort.”
The Comeback Is Complete. The 2016 Big Ten Championship game win over Wisconsin receives a ranking higher than the other conference
2017 September T&G - 31
Penn State All Sports Museum
3 A Rose Like No Other. The Nittany Lions, in just their second season in the Big Ten, capped a perfect 12-0 season in 1994 with
32 - T&G September 2017
a 38-20 Rose Bowl win over Oregon. While the win ultimately didn’t give Penn State a share of the national title, it gave fans one more memorable game and moment for, perhaps, the greatest team in program history. The Lions’ offense, which averaged nearly 48 points per game, scored on its first play when Ki-Jana Carter ran 83 yards for a touchdown. Carter rushed for 156 yards and three touchdowns in the game.
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Joe Jurevicious surveyed the crowd before the 1995 Rose Bowl. The Lions defeated Oregon to cap an unbeaten season.
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2 — was watching Delany, with a chorus of boos raining down on him from the fans inside Lucas Oil Stadium, hand the Big Ten Championship Trophy over to head coach James Franklin.
Oregon kept the game close and tied Penn State at 14-14 late in the third quarter. The Lions scored the next 24 points to pull away. After the game, head coach Joe Paterno said, “We proved to everyone in the
David Pencek
country we’re certainly worthy to be national champion as much as anyone else.”
4 Rallying Nittany Nation.
{
The July 2012 address by Michael Zordich and Michael Mauti to teammates and the media after the NCAA handed down sanctions is commemorated on a downtown mural.
{
Where others walked away or crumbled in the wake of the NCAA sanctions imposed in July 2012, it was the likes of Michael Zordich and Michael Mauti who demonstrated to everyone what real leadership looks like. On the day NCAA president Mark Emmert announced the unprecedented penalties against Penn State, Zordich and Mauti, two
2017 September T&G - 33
Signature Win. Through James Franklin’s first 2½ seasons as head coach of the Nittany Lions, he didn’t have a “signature win,” according to some fans and experts. That all changed on October 22, 2016.
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5
fessiona l Studio
34 - T&G September 2017
Steve Tre ssler/Vis ta Pro
senior members of the 2012 team, stood in front of several of their teammates and spoke from their hearts for two minutes before the media. “We have the ability to fight not just for a team, not just a program, but an entire university. We’re going to embrace this opportunity,” Zordich said. Mauti added, “This program wasn’t built by one man, and this program sure as hell isn’t going to get torn down by one man.” It was a definitive statement to Emmert and the nation that Penn State wasn’t going anywhere. At the end of the speech, Zordich said, “I’m personally calling out every member of Nittany Nation … please come support us. We need you just as much as you need us. Together, we’ll get through this to the end.”
{ { Lions’ coach James Franklin shook hands with Ohio State coach Urban Meyer after Penn State upset the Buckeyes last October.
Tim Weight
{ { Marcus Allen (2) blocked an Ohio State field goal attempt last October. The ball was returned for a touchdown by Grant Haley (15), giving the Nittany Lions an upset win that helped propel them to the Big Ten title.
Trailing 21-7 in the fourth quarter against undefeated and No. 2-ranked Ohio State, the Lions scored 17 unanswered points to produce one of the biggest wins in program history — a 24-21 upset over the Buckeyes. The winning points came
when Marcus Allen blocked a 45-yard field-goal attempt by Ohio State’s Tyler Durbin. Grant Haley picked up the ball and ran 60 yards for a touchdown that gave Penn State a 2421 lead with 4:27 left. The Lions hung on for the win, which helped propel them to the Big Ten Championship game.
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Penn State
6 The Drive
seum Penn State All Sports Mu
{
Kerry Collins, seen here in home action, led Penn State on a 96-yard drive at Illinois to preserve the Lions’ unbeaten 1994 season.
7 “We’re Back.” After four losing seasons in five years, Penn State started the 2005 season 5-0, but then came the real test. Sixth-ranked Ohio State visited Beaver Stadium for a prime-time game.
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on the final drive, and the Lions converted three third downs. Fullback Brian Milne ended the more than five-minute drive with a two-yard touchdown plunge, his third score of the game. The 35-31 victory clinched Penn State’s first Big Ten title and helped the Lions stay undefeated.
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Trailing Illinois 31-28 with six minutes remaining in the game, Penn State and its vaunted offense of 1994 had to go 96 yards against a formidable Illini defense to preserve its undefeated season. The Lions had battled back all afternoon. They trailed 21-0 in the first quarter and 28-14 at halftime. In a story in the New York Times, tight end Kyle Brady said after the game, “We looked at each other and said, ‘If we deserve a national championship, if we deserve the Big Ten and the Rose Bowl, we have to do it right here.’” Quarterback Kerry Collins completed all seven of his pass attempts
A packed Beaver Stadium was rocking under the lights in October 2005 as Penn State defeated Ohio State.
2017 September T&G - 37
Penn State
As soon as the Lions had defeated Minnesota a week earlier to go to 5-0 and set up the showdown, students camped outside Beaver Stadium and stayed all week. On a rainy night in front of a raucous crowd of more than 109,000, the Lions’ defense forced three turnovers. Freshman wide receiver Derrick Williams scored on a 13-yard touchdown run early in the second quarter to give Penn State a 7-3 lead. A few minutes later, Calvin Lowry intercepted a Troy Smith pass Derrick Williams and returned helped Penn State the ball to the to a defining win Ohio State 2. over Ohio State in Three plays 2005, and later led later, quarterthe Lions to the back Michael 2009 Rose Bowl. Robinson ran
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Big Win in the Big House While Penn State has had a few heartbreaking losses at Michigan Stadium, it
orts Museum Penn State All Sp
8
enjoyed an unforgettable win there when it first visited Ann Arbor as a member of the Big Ten in 1994. The Lions were undefeated and No. 3 in the
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into the end zone from one yard out to give Penn State a 14-3 lead. Late in the game, with the Lions holding onto a 17-10 lead, defensive end Tamba Hali sacked Smith, forcing him to fumble. Scott Paxson recovered to all but seal the win. “That was definitely one of the highlights of my career, one of the highlights of my life,” Robinson said in a story in the Patriot-News.
Bobby Engram (10) and Kerry Collins celebrated as Penn State won in Ann Arbor to stay undefeated in October 1994.
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Lions the lead with just under three minutes left. Cornerback Brian Miller intercepted Wolverine quarterback Todd Collins’s pass with 1:26 remaining to end Michigan’s final drive.
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Coach Joe Paterno was carried off the field after his record-breaking 324th win in 2001.
{
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Penn State All Sports Mu
nation. Michigan was No. 5, with its lone loss coming a few weeks earlier to Colorado on Kordell Stewart’s Hail Mary touchdown pass to Michael Westbrook. Penn State controlled much of the first half, but led by just 16-3. Wolverines’ running back Tyrone Wheatley gave Michigan the lead with touchdown runs of 67 and 21 yards in the third quarter. The game was tied at 24 late in the fourth quarter, when Collins and the Penn State offense went 55 yards for the winning score. On third-and-11, Collins completed a 16-yard touchdown pass to receiver Bobby Engram to give the
Penn State became the top-ranked team in the country after the win. “It’s been a while since Penn State has won a very big ball game,” Kerry Collins said after the game in a story in the Los Angeles Times. “We needed that to get us back into the elite in the country.”
9 Topping the Bear Heading into the 2001 season, Paterno needed just two wins to become the winningest coach in major college football, breaking Paul “Bear” Bryant’s all-time victory total of 323.
Penn State, however, started the season 0-4. But after a come-from-behind win at Northwestern, the Lions returned home to play Ohio State with a chance to give Paterno the win he needed to break the record. With the Buckeyes leading 27-9 in the third quarter, it appeared as if Paterno would have to wait at least one more week. Quarterback Zack Mills, who a few plays earlier threw an interception that was returned for a touchdown to give Ohio State its 18-point lead, ran 69 yards for a touchdown, and suddenly Penn State had momentum. The Lions scored 20 unanswered points and pulled out a 29-27 victory. Mills threw a
What’s your top memory? We’d like to hear about your favorite Penn State football moment of the Big Ten era. Did we miss any? Email Town&Gown editorial director Mark Brackenbury at mbrackenbury@ barashmedia.com. We’ll publish select responses at townandgown.com.
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13-yard touchdown pass to Eric McCoo on the first play of the fourth quarter for what ended up being the winning score. Mills threw for 280 yards and ran for 138 on the day. “You never think it’s going to be a big deal until it happens like this, with this many people,” Paterno said after the game. “It’s just hard to describe. But I’m a very, very lucky guy to be at an institution such as Penn State with all these fans.” 42 - T&G September 2017
10 409 The number has taken on an additional meaning over the past few years. But on October 29, 2011, in what ended up being the final game of his coaching career, Paterno became the winningest coach in all of
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Joe Paterno won his 409th — and final — game on a snowy October day in 2011.
Division I football, breaking former Grambling head coach Eddie Robinson’s record. Penn State came back to defeat Illinois 10-7 on a snowy, windy afternoon in Beaver Stadium. While the weather was bad, Penn State’s offense, as it had been for much of the season, was worse. Still, it came through in the final moments. The Lions trailed 7-3 when they took over at their own 20 with 3:05 remaining. Quarterback Matt McGloin completed four passes on the drive for 58 yards (he completed a total of nine passes for the game). Tailback Silas Redd scored on a three-yard run with 1:08 left to give the Lions the lead. Illinois drove to the Penn State 25 to give kicker Derek Dimke a chance to tie the game with a 42-yard field goal on the game’s final play. In a remarkable scene, Penn State students moved from their seats to place themselves in the stands behind the goal post in the south end zone with the hopes of distracting Dimke. The kick hit the right upright, and Penn State won the game — and Paterno had win number 409. T&G
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And Don’t Forget These... More moments to remember from Penn State’s first 24 seasons in the Big Ten
44 - T&G September 2017
Courtesy of Penn State All Sports Museum (3)
Win in the Horseshoe. Penn State pulled out a 13-6 win over Terrelle Pryor and Ohio State to remain undefeated in October 2008. Triple the Fun. The Lions needed three overtimes to finally beat Florida State, 2623, in the 2006 Orange Bowl, capping an 11-1 season. Comeback in East Lansing. Kerry Collins threw for 352 yards and the Lions came back from a 37-17 deficit to pull out a 38-37 win in East Lansing in November 1993. Four-OT Thriller. Penn State knocked off previously unbeaten Michigan, 43-40, in four overtimes in 2013. Allen Robinson made one of the great catches in program history to set up the tying touchdown toward the end of regulation. Win No. 400. In November 2010, the Lions came back from a 21-0 deficit to beat Northwestern, 35-21, and give head coach Joe Paterno his 400th career win. LJ Goes for 2K. Larry Johnson rushed for 2,087 yards in 2002, going over the 2K mark with 279 yards in a home win over Michigan State in the regular-season finale. Senior Day. The 2012 Penn State seniors will always be
Penn State players and coach Joe Paterno celebrated an Orange Bowl victory over Florida State in January 2006.
remembered for the leadership they showed during the program’s toughest times. They went out on a high note, defeating Wisconsin, 24-21, in overtime on November 24 at Beaver Stadium. Back to Bowls. With the NCAA sanctions lifted, Penn State returned to playing bowl games in 2014. The Lions defeated Boston College, 31-30, in overtime in the Pinstripe Bowl. Kicker Sam Ficken made a 45-yard field goal with 20 seconds remaining in regulation to tie the game, then converted the game-winning extra point in overtime.
Revenge for 1994. Sure it was eight years after the 1994 season when Nebraska was voted national champs over Penn State, but a record crowd at Beaver Stadium still loved seeing the Lions whip the Cornhuskers, 40-7. Beating the Buckeyes. A forgotten classic. The Lions came back from 27-17 down late in the third quarter to beat Ohio State, 31-27, in October 1997 at Beaver Stadium. Curtis Enis rushed for 211 yards. Combined with the Florida Gators losing that same day, the Lions took over the top spot in the national rankings.
Bobby Chen/onwardstate.com
Linebacker LaVar Arrington leaped over the Illinois offensive line to make a memorable tackle in a 1998 game.
Larry Johnson rushed for more than 2,000 yards in 2002, going over the 2K mark against Michigan State.
the program, leading to the Big Ten title season in 2005. LaVar Leap. In a 1998 game against Illinois, linebacker A spectacular catch by wide receiver Allen LaVar Arrington leaped Robinson helped propel Penn State to a fourover the offensive line overtime win over Michigan in 2013. as the ball was snapped and stopped Illini fullback Elmer Goal Line Stand in Bloomington. Penn State Hickman on a fourth-and-1 play. entered the November 2004 Wild Win Over the game against Indiana on a sixWildcats. The Lions looked game losing streak. Leading 22as if they would lose their 16, the Lions’ defense stopped Big Ten opener in 2005, but Indiana four straight plays at quarterback Michael Robinson the goal line and pulled out lobbed a 36-yard touchdown a 22-18 win. The victory was to Derrick Williams with 51 credited as a turning point for
seconds remaining to give Penn State a 34-29 win. Upset in Madison. At 6-5, the Lions were heavy underdogs to the 9-2 Wisconsin Badgers in November 2013. But Christian Hackenberg threw for 339 yards and four touchdowns to lead the Lions to a 31-24 upset win. The First. Can’t forget about the game that started it all. Penn State opened its first Big Ten season by defeating Minnesota, 38-20, on September 4, 1993, at Beaver Stadium.
2017 September T&G - 45
Tough Times Five games not on the highlights reel
End of a Dream — and Aftershocks. Penn State entered the 1999 season with dreams of a national title, and after eight games, the Lions were undefeated and ranked No. 2. Then Minnesota came to town and pulled out one of the more shocking upsets in Beaver Stadium history. Freshman Minnesota kicker Dan Nystrom booted a 32yard field goal on the game’s final play to give the Gophers a 24-23 win. The Lions would lose the last two games of the regular season, and then they went through four losing seasons in five years before the 2005 Big Ten title team. Adding Time. Speaking of the 2005 team. The lone loss that season came in Ann Arbor. The Lions had taken a 25-21 lead with 53 seconds remaining. Michigan drove down the field, the referees, inexplicably, added a few seconds to the clock, and on the game’s final play, Wolverine quarterback Chad Henne threw a 10yard touchdown to Mario Manningham. The dreams of an undefeated season and possible national title run were over.
46 46 -- T&G T&G September September 2017 2017
Michigan receiver Mario Manningham broke hearts in Nittany Nation after scoring the game-winning touchdown on the final play in 2005.
Another Undefeated Season Ends. Similar to 2005, the 2008 Lions were coming off a big win over Ohio State and were rising in the rankings when they stubbed their toe. Penn State was 9-0 and ranked
No. 3 when it traveled to Iowa. The Lions led 2314 going into the fourth quarter. Iowa pulled to within 23-21 midway through the quarter and won the game on Hawkeye kicker Daniel Murray’s 31-yard field goal with one second left.
Penn State
6-4. The score alone tells most Penn State fans all they need to know. The 2004 Lions lost their fourth consecutive game as they fell to Iowa, 6-4. The Hawkeyes even conceded the second safety, knowing the Lions’ offense had no chance of scoring. The 6-4 score also serves as a bad reminder of the early 2000 Penn State teams that suffered four losing seasons in five years.
2017 September T&G2017 - 48 48 - T&G September
Will They Win A Game? The Lions, of course, entered the 2012 season with the cloud of the Sandusky scandal and NCAA sanctions hanging over them. Under first-year head coach Bill O’Brien, the Lions lost their opener to Ohio, 24-14. The next
week, they traveled to Virginia. The Cavaliers took a 17-16 lead with 1:28 remaining. The Lions drove to the Virginia 25 to give kicker Sam Ficken a 42-yard field-goal attempt to win the game on the final play. Ficken missed his fourth field goal of the game, and the Lions fell to 0-2. Many saw the season, and the program, headed toward a collapse. But, of course, the Lions won their next five games and finished 2012 at 7-5. And Ficken became a kicker the team could count on in the clutch and was even a hero in several games during his career. T&G David Pencek is communications manager for Schlow Centre Region Library. He covered Penn State football for nearly 10 years for various newspapers.
Steve Tressler/Vista Professional Studios
New coach Bill O’Brien led the Lions, hit hard by sanctions, in the 2012 opener against Ohio. Penn State lost that day and the following week when kicker Sam Ficken struggled. But Ficken and the team later righted the ship.
Penn State (7)
Tim Weight (2)
T
he Penn State football lifer doubted moving to the Big Ten. Brad “Spider” Caldwell has always breathed football in State College, once as a student, then as a longtime equipment manager, and now as a facilities coordinator. The promise and yet uncertainty of joining a league shook him, as it did many others, nearly three decades ago. “Just for the attitude, I liked being an independent,” Caldwell says, remembering back. “Did we really need to be part of this? I felt like we were the fifth wheel. We were the 11 in that logo and felt like the oddball out. It really was an unknown.” Caldwell would learn of Penn State’s vast economic gain from joining the Big Ten. He knew of the tradition and even the stability of joining such a league during tenuous times. He even gradually became friends with staff members from across the Big Ten, sharing protocol, problems, and experience. He knew it was probably the right decision for his university overall, one being honored as the Nittany Lions begin their 25th football season this fall in what has become arguably the most prestigious conference in America. 52 - T&G September 2017
But he didn’t truly feel it until six years ago. Caldwell points back to when the Jerry Sandusky scandal broke and his head coach, Joe Paterno, was fired. During those ensuing football road trips over the next two seasons, opposing staffs regularly reached out to him and his team upon arrival. He will never forget the scene at Ohio State in 2011. He had tears loading the equipment truck that day. Everyone from the Ohio Stadium ushers to the equipment worker to the chain crew on the sidelines, “they were all sympathetic, and we beat them,” Caldwell says, still sounding a bit stunned. “They were patting us on the back after the game. ‘I can’t believe you guys came in here and beat us after what you went through.’ Nothing but respect. “When you’re getting so many negative things, so much finger-pointing … and one of your enemies, your football rivals, greets you with open arms and gives you a guy hug and feels bad instead of joining in the with the finger-pointing? “That’s when I felt like, man, we really do belong.”
Penn State still stands as a powerful beacon in the ever-shifting world of college athletics. The meeting that energized the dramatic change to come happened in the winter of 1989. There, in a conference room at The Toftrees Resort and Conference Center, a handful of athletic officials, including Paterno and basketball coaches Bruce Parkhill and Rene Portland, met for hours discussing the possible historic shift to the Big Ten. Penn State’s cash cow football program was finding it increasingly difficult to assemble a schedule as an independent. Its flexibility and power was in flux. Its revenue-producing strength, especially from TV, appeared unsteady. Penn State needed a football conference. Even though the Big Ten announced a shaky pro-Penn State vote in June 1990, those like Budd Thalman, former sports information department leader, felt it was the right decision, without question. “There were benefits that went far beyond what it appeared on the surface,” says Thalman, now retired in Fredericksburg, Virginia. He ticks off the usual factors such as increased publicity, shared revenue streams, joining a dynamic academic coalition, lowerprofile sport and facility improvements, and bedrock stability amid the oncoming rush to align with conferences.
Plus, there’s this: “The money is nuts,” Thalman says. Certainly, no place like in the Big Ten. Thanks to its recently-announced mediarights contract with ESPN, FOX Sports and CBS, and through Big Ten Network programming, each member school expects to earn more than $51 million in 2017-18 – up from about $35 million this past year. Jim Delany was a new Big Ten commissioner when Penn State made its move. He said this as part of a Penn State sports information story two years ago: “My view was that it was a tremendous fit for both sides. And history has proven that,” Delany said. “With all the other expansions around the country, I’m not sure there was one that benefitted both institution and conference as much as this did ...” While football fans immersed themselves in debates over longer road trips and competing against Ohio State and Michigan, the 2017 September T&G - 53
surprising announcement in 1990 got plenty of other wheels turning. Two Penn State coaches, Russ Rose with women’s volleyball and Char Morett-Curtiss with field hockey, say they knew their worlds would shift dramatically. Joining the Big Ten made each sport fully-funded, adding assistant coaches and scholarships. More far-flung travel would mean flying instead of busing. Better competition and league cohesion would eventually upgrade their teams. Women’s volleyball won Penn State’s first Big Ten title in 1992 – the first of 16. They’ve won seven national titles since 1999. “We became mentally tougher because we had to play (stronger) teams on back-to-back nights, home and away,” Rose says. “We never would have achieved the success we have
achieved (without the Big Ten).” Women’s soccer, meanwhile, has won a stunning 18 Big Ten titles, including 15 straight at one point, since becoming a varsity sport in 1994. Field hockey has earned a
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Field hockey coach Char Morett-Curtiss says the Big Ten Network has been invaluable in promoting the sport.
Big Ten-best seven league championships. Since hiring wrestling legend Cael Sanderson as head coach in 2009, Penn State has won six of the last seven national titles. Penn State also recently checked in at No. 10 nationally in a Forbes.com list of the “25 schools that dominate athletically and academically,” just ahead of Notre Dame and just behind Princeton. Joining the Big Ten also made Penn State a league partner in the Committee on Institutional Cooperation, one of the world’s elite research consortiums. The organization was renamed The Big Ten Academic Alliance last year and boasts an annual research expenditure of more than $10 billion – more than the Ivy League and University of California system combined. Certainly, the league’s profile has broadened and publicity has revved higher since the Big Ten Network was launched with the 2007 football season.
2017 September T&G - 55
Facilities coordinator and former equipment manager Brad “Spider” Caldwell (right) says the “Big Ten is a monster conference that just pounds and pounds you every week.”
Exposure for lower-profile sports, in particular, has been huge, coaches say. The network’s national reach has ballooned from 17 million viewers in ‘07 to an estimated 65 million last year. Those numbers run on par with the ESPN-based SEC Network, the NFL Network, and the MLB Network. The Big Ten Network has been so successful, in part, because of Penn State’s reach. MorettCurtiss says that exposure has proved invaluable for helping promote field hockey in the Midwest, which in turn, helps the league. Often, the Nittany Lions play live on BTN
56 - T&G September 2017
on fall Fridays. “It’s giving younger kids an opportunity who usually don’t see the sport played at a high level,” Morett-Curtiss says. “They’re watching Monday Night Football and Saturday afternoon football and now they’re watching field hockey live. The younger kids have the exposure to our sport that gives great recognition.” Dave Baker is now Penn State’s associate athletic director for business operations. When Penn State’s Big Ten vote was announced in 1990, he was in Minnesota representing the university at an athletic
Big Ten money will help fund Penn State’s 20-year plan to build and update facilities.
concessions conference. He’s been at Penn State for 45 years. “At the time, I don’t think a lot of people realized some of the things the Big Ten prided itself on like revenue sharing,” Baker says. “Eventually, schools realized we were bringing something to the conference beyond another traditional football power. “I think our fans have come around to
realize this is probably a good thing.” Baker also points to the informationsharing and business network among Big Ten schools, from police chiefs to library workers to ticket managers. Chief financial officers throughout the league hold annual meetings and monthly phone calls. “You beat up on somebody in competition but then we sit down and talk best practices,” Baker says.
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Increased Big Ten revenue has allowed Penn State to increase offerings to its students, from building the new Morgan Academic Center to adding “fueling stations” for athletes to get quick, healthy meal-replacement options, from yogurt to sandwiches to protein shakes. Big Ten money also will be saved to help fund its 20-year “Master Plan” to build and update facilities. The first phase is expected to include a new epicenter for athletes, a multi-purpose indoor practice facility, and new swimming and indoor tennis homes. Along the way, the premier Big Ten competition has made Penn State’s but dated football facilities have women’s volleyball team “mentally tougher,” undergone much-needed facelifts, coach Russ Rose says.
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The field hockey team celebrating the 2016 Big Ten championship.
from the weight room to the Lasch building headquarters to Holuba Hall, the massive indoor practice building. Beaver Stadium major work should begin in five or six years.
The women’s soccer team has won 18 Big Ten titles.
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Many Penn State coaches and administrators talk about the move to the Big Ten now in terms beyond finances and scheduling, even competition. They point to the relationships developed between those from other like-minded institutions and all of the benefits that result. They maintain the success and struggles of Penn State’s transition have paved the way for smoother additions of Nebraska in 2010, and Maryland and Rutgers two years later. “You really do get a camaraderie with those guys. They’re your counterparts,” Caldwell says about other Big Ten staffs. “It was fun to watch their games and route for Big Ten teams. We never had that family feeling with other teams (as an independent).”
With stars like Zain Retherford, Penn State has won six of the last seven national titles in wrestling.
Caldwell remembers how Penn State’s unofficial welcome to the league was wearing a Big Ten patch on its Blockbuster Bowl uniforms – “the first (uniform) patch in Penn State history” – to end the 1992 season. At the time, he admits to not knowing where such a drastic change was truly headed. He says he is stunned by how far it has all come for Penn State.
“It was arrogant of me to think we were coming in as an independent and would dominate. The Big Ten is a monster conference that just pounds and pounds you every week,” Caldwell says. “I didn’t have that respect early on and I have it now, big time.” T&G Frank Bodani has covered Penn State sports for the York Daily Record/York Sunday News since 1994.
2017 September T&G - 61
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2017 Penn State Football Schedule September 2...................................... AKRON noon September 9.................PITTSBURGH 3:30 p.m. September 16...... GEORGIA STATE 7:30 p.m. September 23.................................................at Iowa September 30............................................ INDIANA October 7.........................at Northwestern noon October 21............................................. MICHIGAN October 28......................at Ohio State 3:30 p.m. November 4...............................at Michigan State November 11...............................RUTGERS noon November 18........................................NEBRASKA November 25........................................at Maryland
Can
You Escape? Ingenuity, teamwork keys to complex missions at State College escape rooms
By Courtney DeVita Photos By Darren Andrew Weimert
fadi 64 - T&G September 2017
Jordan Santillo in the Mona Lisa room at IQ Escape.
2017 September T&G - 65
W
With 10 minutes left on the timer and renaissance portraits gazing down on them, a group of co-workers tries to place miniature statues onto the correctly marked stands in order to open the door into the last room, where they will find the Mona Lisa, thereby completing their mission. This is IQ Escape, a complex series of rooms where guests must use logic, problem-solving, and teamwork to fulfill their mission and survive. The rooms are an all-immersive experience, placing customers in an alternate reality for 60 minutes. In one such mission, guests are hired by the grandson of Vincenzo Peruggia, an Italian thief made infamous for what is considered
66 - T&G September 2017
Zach Paulsen and Jordan Santillo in the control room at IQ Escape.
to be the greatest art theft of the 20th century: stealing the Mona Lisa. His grandson wants to steal back what he believes is rightly his, enlisting your help to do so. For the next hour guests must navigate four rooms, finding clues amongst the props to unlock padlocks
and set off sensors, eventually leading to the last room housing the Mona Lisa. An IQ game-master watches over the rooms, giving participants clues if they reach a standstill to make sure they’re having fun and progressing. The mission incorporates various technology, like black lights to spot hidden clues on the walls, light switches to turn off lasers, and sensors triggered by correctly angled paintings. IQ Escape was the first of its kind in State College, joining a growing national trend. After it opened in March, two more escape rooms have followed: Escape Artist, which opened this June, and Escape Room Inc., due to open at the beginning of September. Melissa Redman and Eric Lloyd, the co-owners of IQ Escape, became interested in the idea after Redman’s brother-
Tim Clark and Jaylen Bowersox in the Contagion room at IQ Escape.
A game-master watches over the rooms, giving participants clues if they reach a standstill. in-law opened one of the first rooms in Pittsburgh. Lloyd saw an opportunity to offer his own take on the game, making it a more immersive experience. “When escape rooms started, they were mostly generation one, which is lock and key combination puzzles,” says Redman. “Most escape rooms are one singular room, but with IQ Escape he took it to the next level and thought what is the future of
Ian Clark and Ethan Sunday work in Contagion.
these rooms rather than what’s happening right now, so he decided to create more of a mission-based escape room.” Lloyd creates all of the technology in the game, which
allows the customers to control their own mission rather than working on the same puzzles over and over for an hour. They’re able to incorporate different kinds of puzzles and various ways of thinking. 2017 September T&G - 67
Aiden Butler, Joe Deasy, Nick Schmidt, and Kevin Deasy at Escape Room Inc. on Calder Way.
Lloyd also devises his own storylines for the games with Dennis Michaels, the project manager. “They’ll get an idea from a movie, or a trailer, or just a video they’ve seen online and then for the next week all they’ll talk about is how to turn that storyline into a game,” says Redman. Their third and latest room, Time Shift, was inspired by Stargate, with the time portal modeled identically after the one
The latest escape rooms are missionbased and incorporate new technology.
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seen in the show. Participants are faced with the task of stopping a rogue agent from delivering futuristic weapons to General Lee. If you don’t succeed, the South wins the Civil War. Stealing Mona, IQ’s inaugural game, is loosely based on the Da Vinci Code film, with its roots grounded in historical facts, as Vincenzo Peruggia actually did steal the Mona Lisa in 1911. Even if the games aren’t
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historical in nature, Lloyd is sure to make it as authentic as possible. In Contagion, participants must contain the pathogen responsible for bringing mankind to the brink of extinction. “For Contagion we had one of Eric’s friends, who is a CDC scientist, come in to look at everything and make sure we were on the right track,” says Redman. “Eric is a stickler for authenticity.” IQ Escape originated in Pittsburgh, eventually opening its State College location to capitalize on the college town’s dense population. “You have 10,000 to 12,000 new students coming in each year, so you have tons of people coming in who have never done an escape room or have never done one of ours,” she 70 - T&G September 2017
As a busy college town, State College is seen as an ideal location for escape rooms.
says. “Eric is also an alumni of Penn State and it’s close to Pittsburgh so it made it easy for us to pick that second location.” Escape Room Inc. similarly originated in Pittsburgh before opening in State College, with the owner, Joe Deasy, approximating that his rooms were some of the first to open in the country.
Deasy first became familiar with the concept after visiting family in Ireland and Hungary. It was in Hungary that he did his first escape room, immediately realizing how successful this business could be in America. Deasy, who had owned small businesses in the past focusing on graphic design, DJ-ing, and business editing, saw this as an opportunity to utilize his wide array of skills. When he first opened in 2014, his rooms were centered on simply getting out of the room, but as more escape rooms popped up he sought to differentiate his product from typical lock and key rooms, by incorporating some mission-based rooms and new technology. “We were the first ones to build these generation-two rooms as we call them,” he says.
Escape rooms are an immersive experience and place customers in an alternate reality for 60 minutes.
72 - T&G September 2017
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In the Chamber of Imhotep at Escape Artist, pazrticipants must escape an ancient chamber before it collapses. “What that means is the whole room is run by a computer and when you put certain objects down on certain places, it opens up other doors, turns things on, turns things off. It’s
completely technology driven.” Deasy frequently plays other escape rooms, even venturing to Canada to get more ideas and tweaking them to make them his own. The first escape room to debut at its opening will be the Chancellor’s Office, loosely based on Penn State’s history, followed by the Diamond Heist, which requires players to steal diamonds and break out before getting caught. Deasy tries to use a combination of history and inspiration from movies and TV shows to come up with his missions. His favorite mission he created, Tomb Explorer,
involves tracing the footsteps of an archeologist, and escaping the tomb before its too late. Brian Becker Jr. was drawn to open his escape room, Escape Artist, in State College for similar reasons as Deasy and Redman: a large student population interested in having fun. Because of the recent influx, escape rooms must go beyond the basic lock and key nature of the originals. People want to be challenged to think in different ways, not figure out the same type of codes over and over again. Becker’s rooms all are missionbased with participants able to choose between finding a stolen necklace in Captain Greenbeard, locating the whereabouts of six missing victims in Room of the Serial Killer, escaping an ancient chamber before it collapses in The Chamber of Imhotep, or using clues to solve an investigation after Sherlock goes missing in Finding Sherlock Holmes. “Escape rooms are not about simply escaping anymore as about solving problems,” says Becker. Though Becker opened in the summer, the popularity of his games has exceeded his expectations, drawing in more
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than 500 people in less than two months. Becker has found a surprising amount of success from professional groups or employers using the rooms as an interview process. “There’s no better way to get you to collaborate together than putting you in a room for 60 minutes and forcing interaction,” he says. “It shows who has what to contribute. Some people are logically inclined, some people are very good with association, and you find these elements in our games here.” The basic designs for Becker’s escape rooms come from the Hungarian firm MazeBase. Hungary was actually one of the first places of origin for live escape rooms, as people
would set them up in garages. However, Becker hopes to soon debut some of his own rooms. Before people started transforming garages into escape rooms for their friends to play, escape rooms were easily played virtually on computers and phones. The games’ transition to real-life versions reflects a growing desire for more human interaction, and why Redman believes the games have found so much success worldwide. “Everybody nowadays is always on their phone or the computer and always working,” says Redman. “This gives them a way to disconnect. Who hasn’t been to a happy hour where everyone’s just on their phones or doing selfies? This is a whole
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hour of just leaving that behind and really interacting with each other. People are sick of the tech and the distractions and are really looking to connect with each other again.” T&G IQ Escape is located at 278 W. Hamilton Ave. in the Hamilton Square Shopping Center. Its third room, Time Shift, will open at the beginning of September. Book times through the location’s website, statecollege.iqescape.com. Tickets for Escape Artist, at 2290 E. College Ave., can be booked on its website, statecollegeescaperooms.com. Escape Room Inc. (escaperoominc.com) opens at the beginning of September at 210 E. Calder Way.
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THE VIETNAM WAR
WPSU’S A TIME TO HEAL
Ken Burns and Lynn Novick’s ten-part, 18hour documentary series, THE VIETNAM WAR, tells the epic story of one of the most consequential, divisive, and controversial events in American history as it has never before been told on film.
A 60-minute WPSU documentary capturing the complexities and perspectives of the war from a Pennsylvania viewpoint, and examining the impact of the conflict in the lives of those who fought, protested, and prayed for their loved ones to come home.
Premieres Sunday, September 17, at 8 p.m.
Thursday, September 14, at 8 p.m. Sunday, September 17, at 7 p.m.
Major corporate support for A TIME TO HEAL is provided by Zippo Manufacturing Company; and Thomas F. Songer II and Sara Hine Songer. Additional Support provided by WETA. THE VIETNAM WAR is a production of Florentine Films and WETA, Washington D.C. Directed by Ken Burns and Lynn Novick. Written by Geoffrey C. Ward. Produced by Sarah Botstein, Lynn Novick and Ken Burns. Funding provided by: BANK OF AMERICA; CORPORATION FOR PUBLIC BROADCASTING; PBS; PARK FOUNDATION; THE ARTHUR VINING DAVIS FOUNDATIONS; THE JOHN S. AND JAMES L. KNIGHT FOUNDATION; THE ANDREW W. MELLON FOUNDATION; NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE HUMANITIES; THE PEW CHARITABLE TRUSTS; FORD FOUNDATION JUST FILMS; ROCKEFELLER BROTHERS FUND; AND MEMBERS OF THE BETTER ANGELS SOCIETY.
Bryce Jordan Center / Medlar Field at Lubrano Park
September
3-5 Spikes vs. Auburn Medlar Field at Lubrano Park 6:05 p.m. Sun., noon Mon., 7:05 p.m. Tues. 6 The Weeknd Bryce Jordan Center 7:30 p.m. 6-7 Spikes vs. Williamsport Medlar Field at Lubrano Park 7:05 p.m. 12-14 Penn State Fall Career Days Bryce Jordan Center 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. 19 Penn State Architectural Engineering Career Fair Bryce Jordan Center 10 a.m. 26 Penn State American Society of Civil Engineers Career Fair Bryce Jordan Center Noon to 4 p.m. 80 - T&G September 2017
T& G
what's happening
2
The Nittany Lions kick off their home slate against Akron. They’ll sport ‘Generations of Greatness’ throwback uniforms September 30 against Indiana.
September
5 The Palmer Museum of Art reopens after renovations. Among the exhibits featured is Asher B. Durand: To Begin Again.
Exercise your right to attend the Constitution 230 birthday event featuring music, speakers, and activities at Grange Park in Centre Hall.
29 Stomp on down to OktoberFest at Tussey Mountain Resort in Boalsburg, featuring authentic food, music, and of course, bier.
30
23 Penn State’s Snider Agricultural Arena hosts the annual Great Insect Fair, an extravaganza celebrating insects with lots of activities, games, crafts, and treats.
Try some specialty apple treats and check out the classics at the Milesburg Museum and Historical Society’s annual AppleFest and Car Show.
To have an event listed in “What’s Happening,” e-mail mbrackenbury@barashmedia.com
2017 September T&G - 81
Children & Families 8 – Free Development Screenings, Schlow Centre Region Library, SC, 9 a.m., schlowlibrary.org 9, 16, 23, 30 – Saturday Stories Alive, Schlow Centre Region Library, SC, 11 a.m., schlowlibrary.org 9, 30 – Elementary Explorers, Schlow Centre Region Library, SC, 2 p.m., schlowlibrary.org 10 – Meet the Authors!, Schlow Centre Region Library, SC, 2 p.m., schlowlibrary.org 16 – Free Introductory Karate Class, Schlow Centre Region Library, SC, 2 p.m., schlowlibrary.org 17 – Ice Age People of Prehistoric Pennsylvania with Robin Moore, Schlow Centre Region Library, SC, 2:30 p.m., schlowlibrary.org 18, 20, 25, 27 – Baby & Me Lapsit, Schlow Centre Region Library, SC, 9:30 a.m., schlowlibrary.org
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18, 20, 25, 27 – Baby & Me Movers, Schlow Centre Region Library, SC, 10:15 a.m., schlowlibrary.org 18, 20, 25, 27 – Tales for Twos, Schlow Centre Region Library, SC, 11 a.m., schlowlibrary.org 19, 26 – Toddler Learning Center, Schlow Centre Region Library, SC, 9:15 and 10:30 a.m., schlowlibrary.org 19, 26 – 3s, 4s, & 5s, Schlow Centre Region Library, SC, 9:30 a.m., schlowlibrary.org 19, 26 – Everybody Storytime, Schlow Centre Region Library, SC, 10:30 a.m., schlowlibrary.org 24 – Back to School, Schlow Centre Region Library, SC, 2 p.m., schlowlibrary.org
Class and Lectures 8 – Paper Views Exhibition: Daumier et alia: Caricature and Satire in Nineteenth-Century France, Palmer Museum of Art, Penn State, 10 a.m., palmermuseum.psu.edu 8 – Gallery Talk: Minna Citron after Atelier 17, Palmer Museum of Art, Penn State, 12:10 p.m., palmermuseum.psu.edu 10 – Docent Choice Tour: Bible Stories in Baroque Art, Palmer Museum of Art, Penn State, 3 p.m., palmermuseum.psu.edu 15 – Gallery Talk: BIG Deal: Sizable Paintings from the Permanent Collection, Palmer Museum of Art, Penn State, 12:10 p.m., palmermuseum.psu.edu 17 – Docent Choice Tour: Flowers and Fruit: Representations in Still Life, Palmer Museum of Art, Penn State, 3 p.m., palmermuseum.psu.edu 19 – QPR Suicide Prevention Course, 9 a.m., 945 E. Bishop St., Bellefonte, info@janamariefoundation.org 19 – Straight Talk: Understanding Your Child’s Social Media World, presented by Jana Marie Foundation, Mount Nittany Middle School, SC, 7 p.m., scasd.org 19, 26 – Tuning In To Kids: Raising Emotionally Intelligent Children, Schlow Centre Region Library, SC, noon, schlowlibrary.org
22 – Gallery Talk: Asher B. Durand: To Begin Again, Palmer Museum of Art, Penn State, 12:10 p.m., palmermuseum.psu.edu 24 – Docent Choice Tour: Let’s Take a Painting Apart!, Palmer Museum of Art, Penn State, 3 p.m., palmermuseum.psu.edu 22-24 – 24-hour Basic Mediation Training, Lewis Katz Building, Penn State, 8:30 a.m., cacj.us 23, 24 – Then and Now Living History Encampment/Bivouac, Pennsylvania Military Museum, Boalsburg, 10 a.m., pamilmuseum.org 30 – Schlow Labs: Beginning Digital Photo Management for Seniors, Schlow Centre Region Library, SC, 10:30 a.m., schlowlibrary.org
Club Events 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 – Comics Club, Schlow Centre Region Library, SC, 3:30 p.m., schlowlibrary.org 6, 20 – Outreach Toastmasters, The 329 Building, Room 413, PSU, noon, kbs131@psu.edu 7, 14, 21, 28 – State College Downtown Rotary, Ramada Inn & Conference Center, SC, noon, centrecounty.org/rotary/club 9, 16, 23, 30 – Chess Club, Schlow Centre Region Library, SC, 2 p.m., schlowlibrary.org 9 – Boardgaming Meetup, Schlow Centre Region Library, SC, 10 a.m., schlowlibrary.org 12 – Women’s Club Mid-Day Connection, Mountain View Country Club, Boalsburg, 11:45 a.m., 404-3704
13 – Women’s Welcome Club presents “Cheese Stands Alone....NOT!” Oakwood Presbyterian Church, SC, 7 p.m. 13 – 148th PA Volunteer Infantry Civil War Reenactment Group, Hoss’s Steak and Sea House, SC, 7 p.m., 861-0770 14, 28 – Schlow Stitchers, Schlow Centre Region Library, SC, 5:30 p.m., schlowlibrary.org 16 – Lego Club, Schlow Centre Region Library, SC, 2 p.m., schlowlibrary.org 18 – Knitting Club, Schlow Centre Region Library, SC, 5:30 p.m., schlowlibrary.org 18 – Parrots Owners’ Group, Perkins, SC, 7 p.m., 237-2722 19 – Adult Evening Book Club, Schlow Centre Region Library, SC, 6:30 p.m., schlowlibrary.org 20 – CR Active Adult Center Book Club, Schlow Centre Region Library, SC, 12:15 p.m., schlowlibrary.org 27 – Adult Afternoon Book Club, Schlow Centre Region Library, SC, 2 p.m., schlowlibrary.org
Community Associations & Development 19 – Spring Creek Watershed Association, Patton Township Municipal Building, SC, 7:30 a.m., springcreekwatershed.org 27 – Patton Township Business Association, Patton Township Municipal Building, SC, noon, 237-2822
2017 September T&G - 83
Exhibits 1-24 – Cinda Kostyak in the Team Room Gallery, Bellefonte Art Museum for Centre County, Bellefonte, noon, Fri.-Sun., bellefontemuseum.org 1-30 – Underground Railroad Room – A Journey to Freedom, Bellefonte Art Museum for Centre County, Bellefonte, noon, Fri.-Sun., bellefontemuseum.org 5-30 – Asher B. Durand: To Begin Again, Palmer Museum of Art, Penn State, palmermuseum.psu.edu 5-30 – New Acquisitions: Minna Citron after Atelier 17, Palmer Museum of Art, Penn State, palmermuseum.psu.edu 5-30 – BIG Deal: Paintings from the Permanent Collection, Palmer Museum of Art, Penn State, palmermuseum.psu.edu 29, 30 – Painting What We Feel, Bellefonte Art Museum for Centre County, Bellefonte, noon, bellefontemuseum.org
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Health Care 5 – Pediatric Emergency Assessment, Recognition and Stabilization (PEARS) – Provider, Mount Nittany Medical Center, SC, 7:30 a.m., mountnittany.org 5 – Pediatric Emergency Assessment, Recognition and Stabilization (PEARS) – Renewal, Mount Nittany Medical Center, SC, 7:30 a.m., mountnittany.org 6 – Breast Cancer Support Group, Mount Nittany Medical Center, SC, 5:30 p.m., mountnittany.org 11 – Weight Loss Support Group, Mount Nittany Medical Center, SC, 5:30 p.m., mountnittany.org 13 – Basic Life Support (BLS) - Provider, Mount Nittany Medical Center, SC, 7:30 a.m., mountnittany.org 14 – Diabetes Support Group, Mount Nittany Medical Center, SC, 6 p.m., mountnittany.org
14 – Free parents-to-be class, Mount Nittany Medical Center, SC, 7 p.m., mountnittany.org 18 – Cancer Survivors’ Association, Pink Zone Resource Center in the Cancer Pavilion at Mount Nittany Medical Center, SC, 11:30 a.m., 238-6220 19 – Neonatal Resuscitation Course – First Time Participant, Mount Nittany Medical Center, SC, 8 a.m., mountnittany.org 20 – Neonatal Resuscitation Course – Renewal, Mount Nittany Medical Center, SC, 8 a.m. and 1 p.m., mountnittany.org 21 – Neonatal Resuscitation Course – Renewal, Mount Nittany Medical Center, SC, 6 p.m., mountnittany.org 21 – Family Medicine Seminar: Childhood Traumatic Stress – Causes, Effects & Best Practices, Mount Nittany Medical Center, SC, 6:30 p.m., mountnittany.org 22 – Update in Neurology, Mount Nittany Medical Center, SC, 8 a.m., mountnittany.org 24 – Neuropathy Support Group of Central PA, Mount Nittany Medical Center, SC, 2 p.m., 531-1024
2017 September T&G - 85
28 – ACLS (Advanced Cardiac Life Support) Course Overview, Mount Nittany Medical Center, SC, 7:30 a.m. and 10 a.m., mountnittany.org
Music 1 – School of Music Graduate Student Recognition Recital, Music Building I, Penn State, 7:30 p.m., music.psu.edu 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 – Friday Night Live Music at Happy Valley Vineyard & Winery, Happy Valley Vineyard & Winery, 6 p.m., thehappyvalleywinery.com 6 – The Weeknd, Bryce Jordan Center, Penn State, 7:30 p.m., bjc.psu.edu 7 – Rusted Root With Raven and the Wren, Tussey Mountain Amphitheater, Boalsburg, 6 p.m., tusseymountain.com 8 – Housewarming Party for the Pennsylvania Chamber Orchestra, The State Theatre, SC, 4:30 p.m., thestatetheatre.org
8 – Jazz in the Attic Presents: Jim Yanda & Regional Cooking, The State Theatre, SC, 8 p.m., thestatetheatre.org 10 – Sunday Afternoon Concert Series: B.M. Junior Recital, Palmer Museum of Art, Penn State, palmermuseum.psu.edu 10 – The Soul Rebels, The State Theatre, SC, 8 p.m., thestatetheatre.org 14 – Cecile McLorin Salvant, Schwab Auditorium, Penn State, 7:30 p.m., cpa.psu.edu 17 – Sunday Afternoon Concert Series: Guest Artist Series, Palmer Museum of Art, Penn State, palmermuseum.psu.edu 19 – St. Paul & the Broken Bone, The State Theatre, SC, 8 p.m., thestatetheatre.org 20 – Faculty Artist Series: James Lyon, Palmer Museum of Art, Penn State, 12:10 p.m., music.psu.edu 21 – Jazz at the Palmer: Arthur Goldstein, Palmer Museum of Art, Penn State, 7 p.m., music.psu.edu, wpsu.psu.edu/events 21 – Native Sons & Daughters Attic Series Presents: Miss Melanie and the Valley Rats, The State Theatre, SC, 8 p.m., thestatetheatre.org
Super Fair Of Centre County Resources
Meet our community’s everyday Superheroes and learn about services that can help you!
FREE ADMISSION
October 7, 2017
Nittany Mall
10am - 2pm
Over 100 Vendors • Informative Presentations • Health Screenings Volunteer Opportunities • Food • Activities • Music • Giveaways For more info on the Super Fair, visit www.theccchs.org 86 - T&G September 2017
24 – Faculty Artist Series: Naomi Seidman and Friends, Palmer Museum of Art, Penn State, 1 p.m., music.psu.edu 26 – Nancy Wilson of Heart with Roadcase Royale, The State Theatre, SC, 8 p.m., thestatetheatre.org 28 – Faculty Artist Series: Kim Cook, Palmer Museum of Art, Penn State, 7:30 p.m., music.psu.edu
Special Events 1 – First Friday State College, Downtown SC, 5 p.m. 1 – Movie on the Mountain: Doctor Strange, Tussey Mountain Amphitheater, Boalsburg, 7:30 p.m., tusseymountain.com 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 – Downtown State College Farmers Market, Locust Lane, SC, 11:30 a.m., visitpennstate.org 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 – Bellefonte Farmers Market, Gamble Mill parking lot, Bellefonte, 8 a.m., visitpennstate.org
2, 9, 16, 23, 30 – Millheim Farmers Market, Hosterman & Stover Hardware Store, Millheim, 10 a.m., visitpennstate.org 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 – North Atherton Farmers Market, SC Home Depot parking lot, 10 a.m., visitpennstate.org 5, 12, 19, 26 – Boalsburg Farmers Market, PA Military Museum parking lot, Boalsburg, 2 p.m., visitpennstate.org 5, 12, 19, 26 – Tuesday State College Farmers Market, Locust Lane, SC, 11:30 a.m., visitpennstate.org 5 – Suicide Prevention Rally, Centre County Courthouse, Bellefonte, noon 6, 13, 20, 27 – Lemont Farmers Market, Granary in Lemont, 2 p.m., visitpennstate.org 7 – SCASD Area Music Boosters Used Instrument Sale, State College Area High School North Cafeteria, SC, 8 p.m., 237-3747 7 – LGBT+ Support Group, State College Borough Building, SC, 7 p.m. 7-10 – Nittany Antique Machinery Association’s Fall Show, Penn’s Cave, Centre Hall, nittanyantique.org
H
istoric Bellefonte has delightful lodging opportunities among its quaint bed and breakfasts. Enjoy a stay at Our Fair Lady, Reynolds Mansion, Harmony Forge, Riffles and Runs, and The Queen. Most Bellefonte B&B’s are within walking distance of attractions, fly fishing and shopping. Bellefonte is just minutes from Penn State University and Downtown State College.
www.bellefontechamber.org 2017 September T&G - 87
10 – An Afternoon with Clara Barton, Centre Furnace Mansion, SC, 2 p.m., centrehistory.org 10 – Herb and Garlic Festival, Boal Mansion Museum, Boalsburg, 10 a.m., boalmuseum.com 10 – Teddy Bear Tea, Boal Mansion Museum, Boalsburg, 3 p.m., boalmuseum.com 10 – Exploring the Armor, Pennsylvania Military Museum, Boalsburg, 2 p.m., pamilmuseum.org 10 – Forget Not: An Evening of Hope, Healing and Remembrance and Free Community Dinner, Millbrook Marsh Nature Center, SC, 5:15 p.m., janamariefoundation.org/ suicide-prevention-month 11 – Junior Woman’s Club of State College Membership Social, Home D Pizzeria, SC, 6 p.m. 12-14 – Penn State Fall Career Days, Bryce Jordan Center, Penn State, 11 a.m., bjc. psu.edu/penn-state-fall-career-days 14, 28 – Mokita Dialogues by Jana Marie Foundation: Sexual Abuse and Consent, New Leaf Initiative, SC, noon, janamariefoundation.org 17 – Constitution 230 Celebration, Grange Park, Centre Hall, 1 p.m., constitution230.com 19 – Support Group for Parents of LGBTQ Kids, State College Borough Building, SC, 7 p.m. 21 – Cheers to Art Fundraiser to Benefit Jana Marie Foundation, Arena Bar and Grill, SC, 6 p.m., janamariefoundation.org 22 – Movies on the Mountain: KongSkull Island, Tussey Mountain Amphitheater, Boalsburg, 7:30 p.m., tusseymountain.com 23 – Sampling Saturday: Fall Food Festival, Tait Farm Harvest Shop, Centre Hall, 2 p.m., taitfarmfoods.com 23 – Great Insect Fair, Snider Agricultural Arena, Penn State, ento.psu.edu 29 – OktoberFest, Tussey Mountain Resort, Boalsburg, tusseymountain.com 29 – Friday Night Live, Webster’s Café and Bookstore, SC, 7 p.m. 30 – AppleFest and Car Show, Milesburg Museum and Historical Society, Milesburg, milesburgmuseum.weebly.com
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30 – You Matter 5K Walk/Run and 10-mile Bike Ride, Science Park Road, SC, 8 a.m., 234-7341
Sports 1 – Penn State Field Hockey vs. Temple, Field Hockey Complex, Penn State, 6 p.m., gopsusports.com 2 – Penn State Football vs. Akron, Beaver Stadium, Penn State, noon, gopsusports.com 3 – State College Spikes vs. Auburn, Medlar Field at Lubrano Park, Penn State, 6:05 p.m., statecollegespikes.com 3 – Penn State Field Hockey vs. Wake Forest, Field Hockey Complex, Penn State, noon, gopsusports.com 4 – State College Spikes vs. Auburn, Medlar Field at Lubrano Park, Penn State, noon, statecollegespikes.com 5 – State College Spikes vs. Auburn, Medlar Field at Lubrano Park, Penn State, 7:05 p.m., statecollegespikes.com 6 – State College Spikes vs. Williamsport, Medlar Field at Lubrano Park, Penn State, 7:05 p.m., statecollegespikes.com 7 – Penn State Women’s Soccer vs. North Carolina, Jeffrey Field, Penn State, 7 p.m., gopsusports.com 8 – Cross Country Spike Shoe Invitational, Penn State, 10 a.m., gopsusports.com 9 – Penn State Men’s Soccer vs. Saint Francis, Jeffrey Field, Penn State, 7 p.m., gopsusports.com 9 – Penn State Football vs. Pittsburgh, Beaver Stadium, Penn State, 3:30 p.m., gopsusports.com 14 – Penn State Women’s Soccer vs. Northwestern, Jeffrey Field, Penn State, 7 p.m., gopsusports.com 15 – Penn State Field Hockey vs. Iowa, Field Hockey Complex, Penn State, 5 p.m., gopsusports.com 16 – Penn State Women’s Volleyball vs. Wake Forest, Rec Hall, Penn State, 10 a.m., gopsusports.com
16 – Penn State Women’s Volleyball vs. Ohio, Rec Hall, Penn State, 4 p.m., gopsusports.com 16 – Penn State Football vs. Georgia State, Beaver Stadium, Penn State, 7:30 p.m., gopsusports.com 17 – Penn State Women’s Soccer vs. Illinois, Jeffrey Field, Penn State, 1 p.m., gopsusports.com 17 – Penn State Men’s Soccer vs. Maryland, Jeffrey Field, Penn State, 5 p.m., gopsusports.com 20 – Penn State Men’s Soccer vs. Detroit Mercy, Jeffrey Field, Penn State, 7 p.m., gopsusports.com 22 – Penn State Field Hockey vs. Northwestern, Field Hockey Complex, Penn State, 5 p.m., gopsusports.com 22 – Penn State Women’s Soccer vs. Iowa, Jeffrey Field, Penn State, 8 p.m., gopsusports.com 22 – Penn State Women’s Volleyball vs. Nebraska, Rec Hall, Penn State, 8 p.m., gopsusports.com 23 – Penn State Men’s Swimming, Penn State, 8:45 a.m., gopsusports.com 23 – Penn State Women’s Swimming, Penn State, 8:45 a.m., gopsusports.com
23 – Penn State Women’s Volleyball vs. Iowa, Rec Hall, Penn State, 7 p.m., gopsusports.com 24 – Penn State Field Hockey vs. Michigan, Field Hockey Complex, Penn State, noon, gopsusports.com 29 – Penn State Women’s Volleyball vs. Illinois, Rec Hall, Penn State, 7:30 p.m., gopsusports.com 30 – Penn State Women’s Volleyball vs. Northwestern, Rec Hall, Penn State, 7 p.m., gopsusports.com 30 – Penn State Football vs. Indiana, Beaver Stadium, Penn State, TBA, gopsusports.com
Theater 1,2 – Looking, Nittany Theatre at the Barn, Boalsburg, 7:30 p.m., nittanytheatre.org 6-14 –Your Blues Ain’t Sweet Like Mine, Penn State Downtown Theatre Center, SC, 7:30 p.m., theatre.psu.edu/blues 12-16 – Mae, the Musical, Nittany Theatre at the Barn, Boalsburg, 7:30 p.m., nittanytheatre.org T&G
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T& G
from the vine
Sometimes, Less Is More Blind test shows that higher-priced wines don’t necessarily taste better By Lucy Rogers I have been tasting wine for a long time. For years I was the managing director for Club Wine International in Chicago, a mail order wine club where members received two bottles of the same varietal wine each month, one domestic and one import. To make those monthly selections, we often tasted as many as 40 wines in an afternoon. After moving to State College, I became the wine director and restaurant manager at Harrison’s Wine Grill, where I created and maintained the wine list as well as taught wine classes. I also ran weekly wine tastings every Wednesday during my tenure there. Since those days at Harrison’s, I have worked in other restaurants, maintained a committed winetasting group that meets at least every other week, and have continued to write this wine column for Town&Gown. All these endeavors required attentive wine tasting, which really is different than wine drinking (though tasting often leads to drinking…). Thoughtfully assessing wine and identifying flavors and character takes focus, attention, and frankly, practice in doing so. What is gained by this attention is a better understanding of wine in general, and what to expect from certain grapes, certain producers, and certain wine regions. I’m a better consumer (in more ways than one) because I have a better idea of what I like and what wine might work best in certain situations. I feel confident in my ability to pair wine with food, and where to look for what I want, both in terms of the type of wine I want at a given moment, and how to find it in the state store system. But what about price? How does one determine if paying more for a bottle of wine is worth it? Does a higher price tag mean a better wine? Objectively we know that just because a wine is expensive doesn’t mean it’s better. Many factors contribute to a wine’s price, not the least of which is the region in which the wine is grown. Napa Valley real estate is expensive — you’d be hard-pressed to find a wine from Napa under $10 no matter how good or bad the wine is. Producers have to charge an amount that is economically viable for them. Supply and demand also plays into the price factor. Spain produces an abundance of wine, so much so that the price of Spanish wine is significantly lower than their California counterparts. 92 - T&G September 2017
Vintage conditions also play into a wine’s price and qualityto-price ratio. If a region has a very good year where the majority of vineyards are able to produce high-quality fruit, then even less skilled winemakers have a chance of making a better wine because they are starting out with very good grapes. Less expensive wines can be of high value because of the vintage conditions. (Conversely, in a year where there are less-than-optimal growing conditions, a skilled winemaker can truly show his craft by making a good wine out of less-thanoptimal fruit.) Regardless of the reasons that wine prices vary, a different question challenged our winetasting group (together for about eight years now): Can you tell the difference between a $15 wine and a $30 wine? If you can tell the difference, is the more expensive wine worth the extra money? We set out to answer these questions at several of our gatherings over the past few months. Our first attempt was pretty academic — to make sure we were comparing apples to apples, we tasted pairs of wines made from the same grape, same region, and same vintage but were at least $15 in price variance, and we tasted the wines blind (not knowing which was which). We found this to be a more difficult task than we would have thought, because it turned out to be quite difficult to meet those parameters we had set up, being able to search only in the local state stores. Red wines that hover around the $15-range are usually from the most recent vintage or two, but wines that are in the over $30-range tended to be older
wines. It was slightly easier to find white wines that met our criterion, since white wines are generally consumed young, but there really aren’t that many white wines on the state store shelves that run over $35. Those that do tended to be from places like Burgundy, where it was difficult to find a low-end offering from the exact same region. So, for white wines, the price differential between the two wines we tasted tended to be more like $10 than $15 or more. And after the first tasting session, we loosened the parameters so that keeping the region and the grape were the most important criteria, with vintage being less important. This made finding wines to compare a lot easier, and, while I think all three criteria are equally important, we were relegated to using what was available to us. Regardless of the perfection (or lack thereof) of the parameters, these tastings turned out to be among the most interesting we’ve ever conducted. To taste two Merlots from the same region at different price points and try to figure out which one was more expensive was an eye-opener for all of us. Because sometimes, some of us would say that while we thought No. 1 was more expensive, we may have preferred No. 2, which is a weird position to find yourself in; you’re basically saying, “I think this wine has something about it that makes it cost more, but I actually don’t prefer it.” Alternatively, there were times folks picked out the most expensive one and it was the one they preferred. But the most fun of all came when the majority found the more expensive one less appealing than the less expensive one, which engenders a real feeling of victory: “I found a great value wine!” And sometimes, the result was simply that we were able to identify the more expensive wine, but didn’t think it was worth paying almost double for, i.e., while 94 - T&G September 2017
we could agree it was a better wine, it wasn’t $15 better. And these were all good things to explore and learn. The weirdest part of this experiment for me personally was how often I was incorrect about which wine was more expensive. I have been working hard to develop my palate. I was surprised at how difficult it was for me to discern which wines cost more — I felt certain it should be more obvious to me, considering my tasting experience. I took it as a bit of an ego blow that I wasn’t better at this game. And what does it mean, that I can’t identify a more expensive wine from a less expensive wine? If they cost more, shouldn’t they be better made, and shouldn’t I be able to tell? Are they better made? Does it even matter, since I can clearly find less expensive wines that satisfy my palate? We will likely continue to hold these “high-low” tastings every couple of months or so. They were a lot of fun to do — the tasting, the discussion, the voting, the unveiling. (On a side note, discussion among tasters can change minds — the next time, we may have to hold the tasting in silence until everyone has committed to their opinions!) On the bright side, my husband and I have figured out that we are pretty content to drink $15 wines, so I guess that’s a score for us! T&G Lucy Rogers is the tasting room manager for Big Spring Spirits in Bellefonte. She can be reached at lucy@ bigspringspirits.com, or you can find her in the tasting room.
UNITED We Win Receives preventive and supportive health care. â–ś 605 patients were seen in the Dental Clinic. 104 expectant moms were seen in the Maternal Child Program.
Feeds their family nutritious meals. â–ś 444,239 meals were distributed through food security programs.
Connect with us. Facebook.com/centrecountyunitedway @CC_UnitedWay
Relies on a variety of services at libraries throughout Centre County. ▶ 26,044 people enrolled in library programs designed to improve literacy.
Reaches all developmental milestones through quality childcare and early intervention. ▶ 503 children received intense support preparing to start school.
Finds shelter and safety as a family when they have nowhere else to go. ▶ 2,855 people were provided a safe place to stay as they recovered from crisis.
126 West Pine Grove Road PO Box 664 Pine Grove Mills, PA 16868
814.238.8283 ccunitedway.org
T& G
Taste of the Month
Taste on Tap The new Federal Taphouse offers 100 craft beers, and a scratch kitchen
Tina Edelman pours a beer at Federal Taphouse. 98 - T&G September 2017
By Vilma Shu Danz Photos by Darren Andrew Weimert
Federal Taphouse features hand-tossed, wood-fired, madeto-order artisan pizzas.
T Summer Sweet Corn Pizza Creamed spinach, sweet corn, house ham, oven-dried tomatoes, and feta.
This past July, Penn State alums Corey Fogarty and Judd Goodman opened their fourth Federal Taphouse, in State College. On the second floor of the Fraser Centre downtown, next to the lobby of the Hyatt Place Hotel, the restaurant offers a draft count of 100 craft beers and 10 wines on tap. The restaurant’s scratch kitchen makes everything fresh with as many local products as possible, and uses natural fuels such as hard woods and mesquite charcoal. The other three Federal Taphouse restaurants are in Harrisburg, Lancaster, and Camp Hill. As the craft brewing landscape continues to evolve, so has Americans’ tastes in beer. Produced in small quantities compared to mass produced beer, craft brewers use more malt and hops to create full-flavored beers. True beer enthusiasts will rejoice at the wide selection of beers available at the Federal Taphouse, which are carefully organized by the different styles such as IPA, sours, Belgian, wheat, and stout, just to name a few. “We are bringing in beers from solid, reputable breweries that are hard to get in the area,” explains Brad Hash, Federal Taphouse’s beer educator. “We always keep an eye out for specialty beers, one-offs, and limited-release beers while balancing that with a good mix of solid go-to beers that people 2017 September T&G - 99
Bison Burger
Organic grass-fed bison, bacon jam, aged cheddar, crispy onion, and house-made pickle.
Duck Confit Grilled Cheese
Fontina, cheddar, cherry mostarda, and house-made pickle. are familiar with. We brought in a lot of beers from breweries in the Philly area like Vault, Conshohocken, Levante, and 2SP. I recommend people getting a few short 5-ounce pours when they come here, so they can get a good sampling of the unique beers we have on tap.” The most recent style to rise to prominence is sour beer. It’s named for its surprising and undeniable tartness. Although a recent trend in the United States, monks in Belgium and Germany have been perfecting the tradition of sour beers for centuries. Sour beers are fermented with naturally occurring wild yeast, and many are aged in oak barrels, most of which previously held wine or whiskey. The barrels help amp up the funkiness and deepen the flavors of the sours, some of which will be 100 - T&G September 2017
aged anywhere from a few months to four years before release. “Sours will have characteristics that are similar to certain dry red wines,” Hash says. Executive chef Joe Mishler, a Hershey native, commands the scratch kitchen at the Federal Taphouse, preparing house-made pretzels and pickles, as well as all the sauces and dressings. “Our pizza oven was brought in especially from Italy and assembled here on-site and every pizza is made to order,” he says. Some of the must-try items on the menu include the bison burger, wood-fired salmon, coalfired barbeque wings, duck confit grilled cheese, grilled pineapple salad, coal-fired swordfish tacos, and lump crab cakes. “Our artisanal pizzas have been very popular as well as
our signature appetizer, devils on horseback, which are bleu cheese stuffed, baconwrapped dates,” says general manager David Chubb. “The nice pungent flavor of the bleu cheese tames down the sweetness of the dates and then you get the salty and crispy bacon, all in one bite!” A family- and kid-friendly environment with seating for 280-300 guests, the Federal Taphouse can accommodate small and large groups. A private dining room with seating for 20 is also available for reservation. T&G Coming up this fall, stop in for Sunday brunch. For more information, follow Federal Taphouse on Facebook or visit federaltaphouse.com.
T& G
dining out
All restaurants are in State College or on the Penn State campus, and in the 814 area code unless noted.
Full Course Dining bar bleu, 114 S. Garner St., 237-0374, bar-bleu.com. Socializing and sports viewing awaits at bar bleu. Don’t miss a minute of the action on 22 true 1080i HDMI high-definition flat-screen monitors displaying the night’s college and pro matchups. The bar serves up 16 draft beers in addition to crafted cocktails, including the “Fishbowl,” concocted in its own 43-ounce tank! Pub fare featuring authentic Kansas Citystyle barbecue is smoked daily on-site. AE, D, DC, ID+, MC, V. Full bar. Barrel 21 Distillery & Dining, 2255 N. Atherton St., 308-9522, barrel21distillery .com. Barrel 21 offers a unique gastro-distillery dining experience that features our one of a kind spirits and beer which are made on premise. Our menu of rotating seasonal items blends classic dishes with current trends to deliver new and interesting presentations for our guests to enjoy. Sunday brunch is a favorite with madeto-order omelets, Bloody Mary bar, and full buffet, including Irving’s bagels, house-made pastries, and much more. Happy Hour is from 4 to 6 p.m.Tuesday through Friday, featuring half-price Barrel 21 spirits and Otto’s beer. Our tasting room also is open if you would like to take a bottle home with you, and our private dining room is available for your special event. We look forward to seeing you at Barrel 21! Carnegie Inn & Spa Restaurant, 100 Cricklewood Drive, 234-2424. An exquisite boutique hotel offering fine dining in a relaxed yet gracious atmosphere. Your dining experience begins with a wide array of appetizers and entrees that compare to the best restaurants of the largest cities in the United States. Additionally, the Carnegie Inn & Spa Restaurant wine list is one of the best in the area and features a wide variety of wines from California, France, and other countries. Reservations suggested. AE, MC, D, V. Full bar.
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Cozy Thai Bistro, 232 S. Allen St., 237-0139. A true authentic Thai restaurant offering casual and yet “cozy” family-friendly dining experience. Menu features wide selections of exotic Thai cuisine, both lunch and dinner (take-out available). BYO (wines and beer) is welcome after 5 p.m. AE, D, DC, MAC, MC, V. The Deli Restaurant, 113 Hiester St., 2375710, The DeliRestaurant.com. Since 1973, The Deli has served up New York-style deli favorites on an American menu offering everything from comfort food to pub favorites, all made from scratch. Soups, breads, sauces, and awardwinning desserts are homemade here early in the morning folks. Look for its rotating menu of food- themed festivals throughout the year. AE, D, DC, LC, MC, V. Full bar. The Dining Room at the Nittany Lion Inn, 200 W. Park Ave., 865-8590. Fine continental cuisine in a relaxed, gracious atmosphere. Casual attire acceptable. Private dining rooms available. AE, D, DC, MAC, MC, V. Full bar. Duffy’s Boalsburg Tavern, On the Diamond, Boalsburg, 466-6241. The Boalsburg Tavern offers a fine, intimate setting reminiscent of Colonial times. Dining for all occasions with formal and casual menus, daily dinner features, specials, and plenty of free parking. AE, MC, V. Full bar.
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To advertise, call Town&Gown account executives Nicohl Gezvain or Debbie Markel at (814) 238-5051.
Faccia Luna Pizzeria, 1229 S. Atherton St., 234-9000, faccialuna.com. A true neighborhood hangout, famous for authentic New York-style wood-fired pizzas and fresh, homemade Italian cuisine. Seafood specialties, sumptuous salads, divine desserts, great service, and full bar. Outside seating available. Sorry, reservations not accepted. Dine-in, Take out. MC/V. Federal Taphouse, 130 S. Fraser St., State College, 954-4888, federaltaphouse.com. New restaurant serving craft beers and signature cocktails. Over 100 beers and wine on tap. Scratch kitchen specializing in artisan pizzas, coal and wood-fired fare. Catering/private event options. AE, D, MC, V. Full Bar. Galanga, 454 E. College Ave., 237-1718. Another great addition to Cozy Thai Bistro. Galanga by Cozy Thai offers a unique authentic Thai food featuring Northeastern Thai-style cuisine. Vegetarian menu selection available. BYO (wines and beer) is welcome after 5 p.m. AE, D, DC, MAC, MC, V.
Visit
The Gardens Restaurant at The Penn Stater Conference Center Hotel, 215 Innovation Blvd., Innovation Park, 863-5090. Dining is a treat for breakfast, lunch, and dinner in The Gardens Restaurant, where sumptuous buffets and à la carte dining are our specialties. AE, CB, D, DC, MC, V. Full bar, beer. Gigi’s, W. College Ave, on the corner of Cato Ave., 861-3463, gigisdining.com. Conveniently located 5 minutes from downtown State College, Gigi’s is a farm-to-table dining experience inspired by the hottest southern trends. Outdoor Patio. Lunch & Dinner. Full Bar. AE, D, MAC, MC, V. The Greek, 102 E. Clinton Ave., 308-8822, thegreekrestaurant.net. Located behind The Original Waffle Shop on North Atherton Street. Visit our Greek tavern and enjoy authentic Greek cuisine. From fresh and abundant vegetables to the most succulent kebabs, each dish has been perfected to showcase genuine Greek flavors. When we say “authentic,” we mean it. Full service, BYOB. D, MC, V.
Enjoy Duffy’s
OUTDOOR PATIO
& Wine Selections for All
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Call Duffy’s Tavern for Reservations.
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Herwig’s Austrian Bistro, “Where Bacon Is An Herb,” 132 W. College Ave., 272-0738. Located next to the State Theatre. Serving authentic Austrian home cooking in Central PA. Ranked #1 Ethnic Restaurant in State College for 8 years in a row. Eat-in, Take-Out, Catering. Glutenfree options available. Bacon-based dessert. Homemade breads, BYO beer or wine all day. Sense of humor required. D, MAC, MC, V. Hi-Way Pizza, 1688 N. Atherton St., 237-0375, HiWayPizza.com. The State College tradition for nearly 50 years, nobody does it better than Hi-Way! Offering more than 29 varieties of hand-spun pizzas made from scratch offer an endless combination of toppings. Its vodka “flaky” crust and red stuffed pizzas are simply a must have. Hi-Way’s menu rounds out with pasta dishes, calzones, grinders, salads, and other Italian specialties. Eat-in, take-out, or Hi-Way delivery. AE, D, DC, LC, MC, V. Full bar. Award-winning pizza and Italian Cuisine. Homemade… with only the best and freshest ingredients.
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Hoss’s Steak & Sea House, 1454 North Atherton Street, State College, 234-4009, www.hosss.com. Since 1983, Hoss’s has been providing considerate service, delicious food, and a pleasant environment that brings family and friends together. We offer a variety of steaks, chicken, seafood, burgers, and sandwiches. Hoss’s showcase is our all-you-can-eat Hosspitality Bars — offering fresh salads, soups, breads, and desserts. AE, D, DC, MAC, MC, V Inferno Brick Oven & Bar, 340 E. College Ave., 237-5718, InfernoBrickOvenBar.com. With a casual yet sophisticated atmosphere, Inferno is a place to see and be seen. A full-service bar boasts a unique specialty wine, beer, and cocktail menu. Foodies — Inferno offers a contemporary Neapolitan brick-oven experience featuring a focused menu of artisan pizzas and other modern-Italian plates. Lunch and dinner service transi- tions into night as a boutique nightclub with dance- floor lighting, club sound system, and the area’s most talented resident DJs. AE, D, MAC, MC, V. Full bar.
Liberty Craft House, 346 E. College Ave., 954-4923, LibertyCraftHouse.com. A worthy destination inspired by their passion for knowledge, skill, and small-batch artisan goods. Liberty is a humble neighborhood joint with design cues from the industrial revolution that provides a comfortable post for a few drinks, food, and good times. A one-of-a-kind, worldclass digital-menu-driven draft system features nitro-coffee, craft sodas, cocktails, wine, ales, lagers, and hand-pumped cask ale. Specializing in American whiskey, Liberty boasts a bottled beer, wine, mead, cider, and spirits list that would make your buddy jealous. Hungry? Liberty’s menu focuses on small-batch, local, organic, and artisan food made 100 percent in-house, fresh from scratch. Charcuerie, fromage, and flat breads are at the heart of the menu that is complemented by many other classic gastropub favorites. Open 11:30 a.m.-2 a.m. every day (kitchen ’til midnight). AE, D, MAC, MC, V.
Legends Pub at The Penn Stater Conference Center Hotel, 215 Innovation Blvd., Innovation Park, 863-5080. Unwind with beverages and a casual lounge menu. AE, D, MC, V. Full bar.
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Otto’s Pub & Brewery, 2235 N. Atherton St., 867-6886, ottospubandbrewery.com. State College’s most awarded craft-beer pub and brewery featuring more than a dozen fresh, house-brewed ales and lagers on tap as well as fine, affordably priced, local American food with vegan and vegetarian offerings, a kids’ menu, weekly features, and seasonal menu. Open for lunch and dinner in a family-friendly, casual atmosphere. Barrel 21 craft distilled spirits available. AE, D, MC, V. Full bar. Philipsburg Elks Lodge & Country Club, 1 Country Club Lane, Philipsburg, 342-0379, philipsburgelks.com. Restaurant open to the public! Monday-Saturday 11-9, Sunday 9-3. Member-only bar. New golf-member special, visit our Web site for summer golf special. AE MC, V. Full Bar (members only). The Tavern Restaurant, 220 E. College Ave., 238-6116. A unique gallery-in-a-restaurant preserving PA’s and Penn State’s past. Dinner at The Tavern is a Penn State tradition. Major credit cards accepted. Full bar. Whiskers at the Nittany Lion Inn, 200 W. Park Ave., 865-8580. Casual dining featuring soups, salads, sandwiches and University Creamery ice cream. Major credit cards accepted. Full bar.
Zola Kitchen & Wine Bar, 324 W. College Ave., 237-8474. Zola Kitchen & Wine Bar features ingredient-driven, seasonal, new American cuisine paired with an extensive wine list, certified wine professional, and exceptional service. Zola’s also features a new climate-controlled wine room, premium by-the-glass wine pours, fine liquor, and craft beer at its full-service bar. Serving lunch and dinner seven days a week. Reservations recommended. Catering. Free parking after 5:30 p.m. AE, D, DC, MAC, MC, V. Full bar.
Good Food Fast Baby’s Burgers & Shakes, 131 S. Garner St., 234-4776, babysburgers.com. Love poodle skirts, a jukebox playing the oldies, and delicious food cooked to order? Then Baby’s Burgers & Shakes is your kind of restaurant! Bring the entire family and enjoy a “Whimpy” burger, a Cherry Coke, or delicious chocolate shake, and top it off with a “Teeny Weeny Sundae” in our authentic 1947 Silk City Diner. Check out Baby’s Web site for full menu and daily specials! D, MC, V, MAC, Lion’s Cash.
Taste of
the Month Each month, Town&Gown highlights people who make Centre County a great place for foodies!
Follow us! 2017 September T&G - 107
Bagel Crust, 460 Westerly Parkway, 308-9321, bagelcrust.com. Fresh, daily-baked New York style bagels with no artificial ingredients, no oil, no butter, and no cholesterol! Gourmet breakfast and lunch sandwiches with the best cold cuts from Boar’s Head. Come try our organic coffee blends, organic herbal and black teas, as well as flavored smoothies. Catering is available. AE, MAC, MC, V. Barranquero Café, 324 E. Calder Way, 954-7548, barranquerocafe.com. A locally owned coffee shop specializing in authentic Colombian coffees and specialty drinks. Works closely with its coffee suppliers in Colombia to ensure that it receives only the highest quality coffee beans the region has to offer. Also serves fresh fruit juices, empanadas, and more! Hopes to bring a little piece of Colombia to Happy Valley! Hours: Mon.-Sat. 7a.m.-8p.m., Sun. 10a.m.-8p.m. Fiddlehead, 134 W. College Ave., 237-0595, fiddleheadstatecollege.com. Fiddlehead is a soup-andsalad café offering soups made from scratch daily. Create your own salad from more than 40 fresh ingredients. Hibachi San, 7 Hetzel Union Building on campus, 8616900. Our Poke bowl is mouthwatering and prepared fresh daily. Create your own Poke bowl with healthy options. Monday-Thursday:saints 10-8,logo.white2.eps Friday: 10-6, Sunday: noon-5.
HUB Dining, HUB-Robeson Center on campus, 865-7623. A Penn State tradition open to all! Enjoy 12 different eateries in the HUB-Robeson Center on campus. Jamba Juice, McAlister’s Deli, Starbucks, Chickfil-A, Burger King, Grate Chee, Sbarro, Soup & Garden, Diversions, Blue Burrito, Mixed Greens, Panda Express, and Hibachi-San by Panda.V, MC, LC. Irving’s, 110 E. College Ave., 231-0604, irvingsstatecollege.com. Irving’s is State College’s finest bakery café serving award-winning bagels, espresso, sandwiches, salads, and smoothies. Meyer Dairy, 2390 S. Atherton St., 237-1849. A State College Classic! Meyer Dairy is the perfect choice for a quick, homemade lunch with fresh soups and sandwiches or treat yourself to your favorite flavor of ice cream or sundae at our ice cream parlor. Fresh milk from our own dairy cows (we do not inject our cows with BST), eggs, cheese, ice cream cakes, baked goods, and more! Plus, Meyer Dairy is the best place to pick up your Town&Gown magazine each month!
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on their embark ny Lions , we rank As the Nitta Big Ten football rs first 24 yea son of 25th sea moments of the the top Inside: Escape rooms test wits • Provost Nick Jones on Penn State’s strategic plan
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Panda Express, 7 Hetzel Union Building on campus, 861-6009 & 1870 North Atherton Street, State College, 867-2806. We serve American Asian cuisine; come try our world-famous orange chicken. Atherton open 11-9:30 MondaySaturday, 11-9 Sunday. Campus open 10-9 Monday-Friday, noon-6 Saturday, noon-7 Sunday. AE, D, ID, MC, V. Saint’s Café, 123 W. Beaver Ave., 238-5707, statecollegecoffeeshop.com. Established in 1999, we are inspired by travel and a passion for exceptional coffee. Come try our espresso drinks, pour-over coffee, pastries, and free WiFi. Cafe Hours: MondaySaturday: 7 a.m.-6 p.m., Sunday: 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Specialty Foods Dam Donuts, 216 W. High Street, Bellefonte, 548-7825, damdonuts.com. Locally owned, specialty donut shop. Made-to-order donuts are made daily, right before your eyes! House-blend coffee, cold-brew coffee, and bubble tea also. We offer a variety of frostings and toppings to tickle your taste buds! Also offering call-ahead orders and special occasions orders. Hours: 7 a.m.-6 p.m. Tues.-Fri., 7 a.m.-3 p.m. Sat. & Sun., Closed Mon. AE, D, MC, V. T&G
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lunch with mimi
Translating Work Into Impact Penn State Provost Nick Jones helps cultivate ‘knock-your-socks-off’ ideas
Nicholas P. Jones, executive vice president and provost of Penn State University, talks with Town&Gown founder Mimi Barash Coppersmith at The Nittany Lion Inn.
As executive vice president and provost of Penn State University, Nicholas P. Jones reports directly to President Eric J. Barron, serves as chief executive officer in the president’s absence, and is involved in nearly all university operations. He is responsible for all academic units (colleges, schools, and campuses), as well as major academic support units, such as the University Libraries, Educational Equity, Affirmative Action, and Information Technology Services. Born in Wellington, New Zealand, Jones earned an undergraduate degree in civil engineering from the University of Auckland in New Zealand. He went on to earn both a master’s degree and a PhD in civil engineering from the California Institute of Technology. Prior to assuming his role at Penn State in July 2013, he served as the Benjamin T. Rome Dean of the Whiting School of Engineering at Johns Hopkins University. He also served two years as professor and head of the department of civil and environmental engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Town&Gown founder Mimi Barash Coppersmith sat down with Jones in The Dining Room at The Nittany Lion 110 - T&G September 2017
Inn to discuss how the university’s multiyear strategic plan will help transform how students pursue higher learning at Penn State, and how the public can benefit from the university’s vast research enterprise. Mimi: How are things going at Penn State, overall and for you as provost? Nick: I’m very excited about where the university is and the direction it’s headed. When I first arrived here about four years ago, one of my first jobs was to preside over the development of Penn State’s new strategic plan. It was challenging in a positive way because I was new and still had a lot to learn. Mimi: When did the previous plan expire? Nick: The last strategic plan took the university probably through 2012, and then there was a bit of a delay in developing the subsequent one as I came aboard. Ultimately, the strategic planning process enabled me to learn in a disciplined way about everything we do at Penn State, and identify our strengths and opportunities. Mimi: What was Penn State’s status then, in your opinion? Nick: Penn State has a long history of being a large,
impactful, land-grant institution. It also established a track record in recent years of being a place where collaborative work could be done well. Mimi: And create new things. Nick: Yes. The fact that we can bring people together across disciplines, through our institute structure, shows the positive culture we have. With that as a foundation, the strategic plan revealed that we had the opportunity to do so much more by unleashing collaborative approaches to problem-solving. What emerged from the process was a focus on five areas: health, stewarding resources, transforming education, digital innovation, and arts and humanities. All are areas where we are uniquely positioned to lead and have positive impacts on the communities we serve. Mimi: And how do you think you’re doing? Nick: It’s going great. We have an
implementation structure in place, and we are moving forward with real purpose. Every day, someone — a dean, or a faculty or staff member — comes into my office with a great idea, one that really knocks your socks off. Mimi: So, can you give an example of a possible “knock-your-socks-off” idea? Nick: Certainly. Our Transforming Education group is driving home the idea that Penn State is unique among higher education institutions across the United States — and arguably the world — in terms of its structure. We are one university with 24 campus locations and a really effective World Campus that delivers courses via the internet. No other institution in the country is structured this way, with the scope we have. Mimi: You can blame it on Eric Walker. Nick: Right. One of the powerful attributes of that is our ability to really live the land-grant mission by being present in
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all of those communities and having Penn State campuses in those locations. Mimi: And, I would argue that with the more recent emphasis on economic development, in many of those places Penn State’s role will become even more significant. Nick: I agree. We’re seeing it already in some places where the Invent Penn State initiative is starting to have a transformational effect. The New Kensington campus got one of the seed grants provided through Invent Penn State, and leaders there have committed to build an entrepreneurial incubator downtown. Since that commitment was made, we’ve drawn in partners from the community and the region, all of whom have made investments. There are at least 14 new, small businesses that are planning to set up shop in the New Kensington downtown area in large part because Penn State has committed to put our facility there, and they want to be able to leverage that. Mimi: So, the economic development
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piece has a lot of bells and whistles in the public’s mind. How are we doing overall? Nick: I think we’re doing well. We’ve come an extraordinarily long way. I’ve been here four years. President Barron has been here for about three years, and Neil Sharkey has been the vice president for research since about the time that I arrived. The three of us really share a passion and a vision for Penn State’s role in technology commercialization. Beyond that, we’re a top-tier research university. We have an obligation as part of our mission to make sure our discoveries find their way into policy, process, or products because, when they do, then the public will benefit. In the past, we often hoped that it would happen. We did good work, published it, and threw things over the transom. I think we pay much more attention now to ensuring that results are less random. We make sure opportunities are carried over the transom and placed in an optimal way to increase the likelihood that citizens can directly benefit.
Mimi: I do believe one has a feeling that’s going on. Can you point to any other specifics that would help define the progress we’re making in those efforts? I remember at the opening of the Happy Valley Launchbox, I heard the young woman from the Schreyer Honors College talk about the device she and others were working on to help people who were unable to speak — Mary Elizabeth McCulloch with Project Vive. Where does that stand? Nick: I think she just won another national competition award for that. That is a good example of translating our work into impact. That is the title of the strategic plan, Our Commitment to Impact. We believe our job is to have a positive impact on the constituencies we serve. Mimi: If my readers could see the determination in your eyes, they’d know you mean all that. Nick: I do mean that, absolutely. We were talking about transforming education before. There is no other institution quite
like us in terms of structure and scope. We really have a unique opportunity to unleash that structure in a much more coherent and coordinated way. The World Campus was a start-up venture that the university launched 18 years ago that has been remarkably successful. Our vision for Penn State 2025 is that all of these modalities will be much more seamlessly integrated for our students. So, students who want to earn a Penn State degree have multiple entry points, many options, and there will be transparency across all of these units. Students can be at University Park and seamlessly take courses from World Campus and other campus locations without having to physically go elsewhere. If there is a professor at Penn State Behrend who teaches a course that an engineering student at University Park would like to have in his or her curriculum, we will be able to make that happen. Mimi: And this is all because of technology?
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Nick: Technology is a big facilitator, but it’s not all about technology. We are seeing an extraordinary emerging and renewed commitment among our faculty and administration to serve critical roles in educating the next generation of learners. Mimi: And doing it better than anyone else. Nick: Yes, by doing it better than anybody else and leveraging that uniqueness of our structure to do so. We are thinking about how we can be more effective in teaching our students to be effective learners. The days of standing in front of the chalkboard, like I used to do when I was a brand-new assistant professor and giving a lecture, are largely over. It’s all about “active learning,” with the professor serving less as a lecturer and more as a “learning facilitator.” Your role is to enable the students to learn in more effective ways. Flipped classrooms are a good example, where the students are provided typical lecture material
in advance, along with complementary readings. The class, then, instead of being the place where information is thrown at you, is an opportunity for discussion, problem-solving, and pursuing the nuance. Technology is a piece of this, because it enables this to happen in ways it hasn’t happened before. Students can view a lecture online before class, and then discuss the lecture in class. But we also need to have learning spaces that are configured appropriately to make that happen. We also need faculty and others who are willing to engage with our students in new ways. It’s exciting to see that they are willing to reconsider and retool the way they do things to be more effective. Mimi: Sounds like a challenge, but exciting. I sit here in utter amazement at the volume of work that’s in your job title. How do you get it all done? Nick: The most important resource I have are the people I am privileged to work with. Whether it’s the deans, the vice provosts, vice presidents, the staff in my office, or my executive assistant, I’m just very fortunate to have committed, smart, and capable people around me. A big part of my job is making sure that this is the case. We’ve just gone through several dean searches, and I’m really excited that, even though we’ve transitioned out some people who have been great contributors to Penn State, we’ve brought in new people who are going to take us in exciting directions. So, making sure that we have the right
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people is probably the most important thing that I do. Then, a big part of my job is to get them the resources they need to be successful and to ensure they know they have my support. Then I empower them to do their best work. Mimi: They’re part of the lifting. I observed in the period of time since you’ve been here, you’ve hired a lot of women in leadership. Was that on purpose? Nick: My policy is to make sure we’re always hiring the best people for the job. One of the ways we do that is to ensure that the groups from which we select our leaders are broadly representative, and that we can see different perspectives, strengths, and points of view. If we don’t have a good pool of candidates from which to select, then I think we have one hand tied behind our back. I’m always committed to hiring the best person for the job, and we’ve been successful over the last few years with search committees that I have charged to help me in that process. We have worked very hard to make
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sure we have great candidates in the pools, and the outcome is what you described. Mimi: How are we coming regarding diversity overall? Nick: We’re making progress, but have a lot of work to do. My personal view is that, many times, a focus on diversity can end up looking more at the means rather than at the end. We need to build what I describe as a “powerfully inclusive environment.” Mimi: And that’s difficult in a small community. Nick: It can be, but that’s what we need to be focusing on — building an inclusive, embracing, and welcoming community. The All-In initiative is a great example — a very strong statement from our university that we are focused on inclusion and through that focus on true inclusion we are committed to building a more diverse community. Mimi: Reflecting back on your four years, if you were to point your finger at the one thing you are really proud of, what is it? Nick: The strategic plan. I came at a really good time, and we were able to create an inclusive strategic planning process, reaching out and getting everybody to participate. Now that we’re moving to implement the plan, we’re keeping people engaged and excited. I see a lot of great ideas emerging to be acted upon. As the implementation plays out, it’s going to be tremendously impactful for the university. Mimi: I would observe that all of the good that has come from your role and your planning has helped Penn State amid some adverse conditions, some of which have made negative news nationally. How do you keep your cool? Nick: In a large, complex community like ours, sometimes tragedies and crises happen. Part of our job as administrators is to manage through these. If you’re a skipper on a boat and there’s a thunderstorm ahead, you can’t necessarily turn around and sail in the other direction. Mimi: Not if you want to get to where you want to go.
Nick: You have to, with resolve, sail through. And, in the process of sailing through, you have to keep a steady hand on the tiller so that everybody on the boat knows that you’re going to get through this storm and emerge on the other side, still on course. I do think that, at times, when people get frustrated, disappointed, upset, or angry about some of the issues we’ve had to deal with, there is just a fundamental belief in the positive impacts that this remarkable institution can have. We will get through things, make the corrections, address the issues, but we are focused on being the impactful university that we can be that makes positive differences in people’s lives. That gives people something to come back to. A lot of that, from my perspective, is encapsulated in the strategic plan and related activities. Mimi: The state budget is still an interesting puzzle from almost any point of view. I can’t help but wonder what might happen to our annual appropriation from
the commonwealth. What happens if our appropriation doesn’t come through or eventually disappears? Nick: We really have no choice but to think about that. When the legislature was in the middle of the budget impasse a couple years ago, it wasn’t clear Penn State would get an appropriation. During the impasse, it became increasingly worrisome that could happen, so we began the process of contingency planning for that outcome. The impact on the university would have been profound. It would have meant an overnight loss of education and general funding of more than $220 million. We’re a big institution, but $220 million is a lot of money. We had a plan. Realistically, it would have taken at least five years to recover. We would survive because we’re a strong institution, but we would emerge from that period looking quite different than we did going in. We essentially would become a private institution without public support. But I never found one person
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Patrick Mansell / Penn State
The Penn State community came together at Old Main last Oct. 6 to kick off the university-wide initiative “All In at Penn State" with a multimedia presentation. Jones says the initiative is an example of building an inclusive community.
anywhere in the institution that thought we should walk away from the commitment of being Pennsylvania’s land-grant institution whose mission is to serve the citizens of the commonwealth. That was really powerful to me, that people are so committed to their mission, even if we fail to get support from Harrisburg. That the mission would continue to be embraced reveals how people at this university feel about their roles and their commitment to service. Mimi: Many of us all around town are walking examples about what that meant to all of us individually. Nick: Yes. It is s not just a concept, it’s not just words, and it’s real and powerful to be immersed in that.
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Mimi: Well, I want to thank you for sharing your time and insights. We appreciate it and wish you continuing success as you carry a big load, academically and otherwise. Nick: Thank you very much, Mimi, I appreciate it. My alarm goes off very early each morning! And while I don’t quite know what’s going to be in front of me in the day ahead, it’s pretty easy to jump out of bed and come in empowered every morning because I realize the awesome potential of Penn State to do extraordinary good, not only in Pennsylvania, but in the nation and even beyond. That is energizing. And I’m fortunate to have great colleagues. Mimi: I guess that’s true of all of us, nobody gets there alone. T&G
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Artist of the Month
A New Era for the Palmer Incoming Director Erin Coe says the museum could help drive tourism By Tommy Butler
Erin Coe says the future of the Palmer holds much to be excited about.
Erin Coe was instrumental in the growth of the Hyde Collection in Glens Falls, New York, where she spent 15 years as chief curator before being named director in 2015. Now, she’ll look to advance the mission of Penn State’s Palmer Museum of Art. She becomes the museum’s director on September 11. Just before stepping down as director of the Hyde, Coe received a Congressional Recognition for her dedication to cultivating and promoting fine arts by Congresswoman Elise Stefanik of New York’s 21st District. As Penn State searched the nation to fill the director’s position at the Palmer, Coe’s reputation and experience made her a prime candidate. When Penn State first reached out to her, Coe wasn’t immediately sold on the idea. “I wasn’t looking [for a new job], but I was contacted by a national recruiter that Penn State had contracted for the national search,” says Coe. “After speaking with 122 - T&G September 2017
her and learning more about the Palmer and what they were looking for in a new director, I became excited by the prospect of taking a leadership role.” Coe knew the Palmer’s reputation for having outstanding collections of American art as well as knowing some of the museum’s past curators. What held her back at first was her lack of a personal experience there. “I was familiar with the Palmer, but I hadn’t been there, I’d never been to Penn State,” says Coe. “So it was really from those conversations that the more I learned about the Palmer and Penn State and the direction it’s heading in, the more excited I became. “When I visited during my interview process I was really overcome with the quality of the collection,” she adds. “I knew it was strong in American art, but it wasn’t until I got there that I was struck by the depth and quality of the permanent collection. And then when I learned about what is on the horizon for the Palmer, in terms of future gifts of artwork, I got really excited because this is a museum that is on the rise. This is a museum that is growing and expanding.” Throughout the interview process, Coe continued to warm to the thought of taking over the director position. Once she realized that she and the Palmer’s staff had identical goals, she knew she would take the job. “Alignment is what I’m always looking for,” says Coe. “Can the vision become visible, can we do this? On the parts of the constituents at Penn State, is there a consensus that something
Photo by Stephanie Swindle Thomas
Keri Mongelluzzo (left), and Lydia O'Reilly, graduate students in art history, re-install artwork at the Palmer Museum of Art, which was closed for the summer for renovations.
has to change at the Palmer, that the Palmer needs to advance? I overwhelmingly felt that [the answer was yes] when I was there, so that was the moment for me.” As director of the Hyde Collection, Coe worked on improving accessibility and engagement with the community. Adding technology and improving visitor experience were big focuses for her with the Hyde, and she made the museum visible on a national scale. Her plan is the same for Penn State: to promote engagement with the core community of students and local citizens, and to expand outward to bring in more of a national audience to the Palmer. Eventually, Coe believes that the Palmer could help make Penn State an arts and culture destination. “I think the Palmer could drive tourism,” says Coe. “Football, I know, is huge at Penn State and rightly so, but the Palmer museum is year-round. It can help drive people to Centre County and to State College and, strategically speaking, take a more lead role in advancing Penn State University’s
mission and strategic plan, to have a greater impact — which is what the president has been calling for — and that impact is in the humanities and the arts.” The Palmer was closed for the summer as renovations were made to increase space for the collection. With the museum set to re-open on September 5 and Coe to arrive on the 11th, she will hit the ground running toward her goals. “Looking ahead to the future, and again in line with the president’s strategic plan, he’s calling for a cultural district at the Arboretum and that includes, potentially, a new museum for the Palmer,” Coe says. “So the Palmer collections are growing quite rapidly and they need more room to be exhibited and to be stored, and that’s a lot to be excited about.” T&G For information on exhibits and collections at the Palmer Museum of Art, go to palmermuseum.psu.edu.
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snapshot
Legacy of Learning For Anita Ditz, ‘books and kids’ proved a perfect combination By Sean Yoder Anita Ditz will be hanging up her hat as the head of children’s services at Schlow Centre Region Library this month, leaving a 34-year legacy of building up programs aimed at young learners. Her service with Schlow began in 1983, back when there were 87 children in the summer reading program and no visits to local classrooms. It’s a different picture now that Ditz has been one of the guiding hands of Schlow’s mission to educate the public. Now tally about 1,800 kids in the reading program, visits to every local elementary classroom, programs for the youngest children to promote early literacy, a focus on best practices for early learners, and stronger ties throughout the community. Ditz says her career path became obvious when she took a part-time job at a library after working at Three-Mile Island. “Books and kids,” Ditz says. “I can’t think of a better combination.” Ditz was director of the Pennsylvania Library Association from 2004 to 2006, chaired and sat on a number of committees. She also helped Schlow win six best practice awards for its children’s services, among many other honors. Her labors as a librarian dedicated to children produced the first Family Place in the state, which features toys, creative play areas, and parent resources. The nationallyrecognized Parent/Child Workshop Ditz created helps families with toddlers with special needs. Ditz says the Family Place is driven by a philosophy that lays the groundwork for education later in life. The children are able to socialize while the parents can network. She says this has been especially popular with international families, where their children can learn English naturally. Ditz says she is a firm believer in public libraries, and says libraries are one of the country’s great unsung resources. “Free access to information is the basis of freedom in a democracy,” she says. Catherine Alloway, director of Schlow, says Ditz is a community treasure and will leave a legacy with multiple 124 - T&G September 2017
Anita Ditz says libraries are great unsung resources.
generations in Centre County. “She has just given so much of herself to the community in so many ways,” Alloway says. In 2013, Ditz earned the PaLA’s distinguished service award, the highest honor the association can bestow. The annual award requires the nominee have an influence beyond her local library. When Alloway nominated Ditz for the award, she noted that the children’s department Ditz helped build is now a model for other libraries. “Anita’s compassion for children and families gives her the extraordinary ability to connect with her colleagues, community and customers,” Alloway wrote. Ditz says she expects big things from the entire library staff after she’s gone and praised them for their dedication. “Every year I say ‘This is the best staff I’ve ever had,’” Ditz says. Friends have started the Anita Ditz Fund for Schlow Library Children’s Department. The fund will help to support the collections and activities of the department. To donate, visit centre-foundation.org. T&G The community is invited to a send-off for Ditz on September 23 from 1 to 3:30 p.m. at the Schlow Library Downsbrough Community Room, with a short program to begin at 2:30 p.m.
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